St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 6, 2019 – The Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team defeated Greenville University, 76-54, on Friday night in the 19thAnnual McWilliams Classic at the WU Field House in St. Louis.
The Bears improve to 4-2 on the season while the Panthers fall to 3-4.
The WashU offense was led by a career-high 18 points from freshman Molly Gannon with four three-pointers. Senior Kristina Schmelter chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds while sophomore Isabelle Hren dished out a career-high seven assists, scored six points and pulled down five rebounds.
Freshman Naomi Jackson went 4-for-4 from the three-point land to match a career-high 12 points. Freshman Rachel Mahler pulled down a career-high eight boards while fellow freshman Sammi Matoush had 11 points and four rebounds.
Sophomore Samantha Weaver pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds and scored 11 points.
Greenville had control of the first quarter, pushing their lead to eight points at 16-8 at 2:59. The Bears got back-to-back three-pointers by Jackson and Gannon to get within three just 30 seconds later at 16-13. The Bears cut the Panthers lead back to three at the end of the period, 18-15.
Matoush hit a three-pointer at the 6:04 mark in the second quarter to even the score at 22-22. She had three three-pointers to jump start the Bears offense to go on an 8-0 run. WashU would hold Greenville at bay and take a 34-28 into the half.
The Bears kept the offensive pressure on the Panthers in the third quarter. WashU's lead would balloon to 12 at 50-38 on a Gannon three-pointer at 2:33. Jackson hit a three-pointer with five seconds left in the quarter to give the Bears a 56-40 after three.
WashU didn't let up in the fourth quarter, effectively stifling any attempts of Greenville trying to put together an offensive run. The Bears largest lead of the game was 26 points at the 3:50 mark on a Gannon fast break layup.
The Bears take on No. 25 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the final game in of the 19thAnnual McWilliams Classic on Saturday, Dec. 7 with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at WU Field House.