St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 12, 2017 – The No. 24-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team defeated the Fontbonne University Griffins 72-47 in the Wydown Showdown Tuesday evening in the Mabee Gymnasium.
WashU improved to 7-2 with the victory while Fontbonne fell to 5-5. The Bears shot 51.7-percent from the field (31-of-60) while holding the Griffins to 27-percent (17-of-63). WashU added another victory to their season total when it outrebounds its opponent, improving the Bears record to 5-0 in such games as they outrebounded Fontbonne 48-30. WashU has won 16 consecutive games against the Griffins.
Junior Madeline Homoly led all scorers with 20 points, while sophomore Kristina Schmelter added 13 points off the bench on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. Homoly notched her third double-double of the season and sixth of her career as she corralled 11 rebounds in addition to her 20 points.
Also scoring in double figures for the Bears were senior Natalie Orr (14), junior Stephanie Botkin (10) and junior Katie Claussner (10). Claussner's 10 points were a new career-high as she shot 5-of-7 from the field in addition to doling out five assists. Junior Caroline Ballard added six rebounds and three steals.
The Bears quickly worked to a double digit lead within the first five minutes of action in the first quarter following a barrage of three-pointers by Orr and Botkin gave WashU a 13-2 lead. Homoly converted four of the Bears final six shots of the quarter as WashU led 25-12 after a single quarter.
WashU's lead swelled to a 21-point advantage at the half when the Bears led 43-22. Botkin scored the initial five points of the second quarter for WashU before Schmelter converted multiple layups to close out the half.
Orr kicked off the scoring in the third quarter with a triple from the wing before Homoly converted a baseline jumper to put the Bears ahead 48-22. The Griffins rallied with a 12-5 run but baskets by Claussner and Schmelter down the stretch held the Bears 21-point advantage, 57-36.
WashU outscored Fontbonne 15-11 in the fourth quarter to close out the 72-47 non-conference victory. Senior Amani Patterson nailed a shot from beyond the arc to nearly stretch to Bears lead to 30 points down the stretch.
Fontbonne's Kaitlynn Walker led the Griffins with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
WashU will next suit up Friday, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. against Hendrix College in the WU Field House. Be sure to stay up to date on all your Bears scores and awards by following @WashUBears on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.