Box Score Bloomington, Ill., November 28, 2021 – The Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team bounced back with an 83-72 victory at Illinois Wesleyan in the consolation game of the Midwest Challenge on Sunday afternoon.
It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Bears, who collect their first win of the season, as they shot a season best 50 percent from the field in the win.
WashU had another hot shooting first quarter, starting 3-3 from three-point territory and were 4-5 shooting from the floor on its first five attempts, as the Bears built an early 11-5 lead.
The Bears stretched the lead out to 25-16 at the end of the period with a balanced scoring attack from Sammi Matoush and Samantha Weaver, who combined for 14 points in the quarter.
In the first half, the Bears shot 59 percent from the floor and scored 15 points off turnovers.
Leading 31-20, the Bears' defense shutdown IWU's offense and roared ahead on a 9-0 run for a 20-point lead, after a fastbreak layup from Maya Arnott made it 40-20.
WashU kept its foot on the gas and a triple from Lauren Chao at the buzzer gave WU its largest lead of the day at 49-27 at the break.
The Bears weathered the storm after a shaky start to the third period as Illinois Wesleyan caught fire with a 13-0 run in the first three minutes.
IWU outscored WashU 19-4 in the first six and a half minutes, but the Bears kept their composure and used an 11-4 run to pull the lead back out to 14 at 64-50 late in the quarter.
Brenna Loftus scored six points in the quarter and the Bears' bench provded a spark, totaling 12 of the 15 points scored in the frame.
WashU was back in control to start the fourth, opening the period on an 11-2 run in the first four minutes to lead 75-54.
However, the Spartans would go on another 13-0 run and closed the lead down to 75-67 with under two minutes remaining.
With just over 90 seconds left, Sammi Matoush drilled a three from the right wing to end the run and put WashU back up by double figures, helping keep the lead out of reach for good.
Jessica Brooks led WU with 20 points on 9-14 shooting, while three other Bears reached double figures scoring.
Brenna Loftus notched a career-high 13 points on 50 percent shooting and Sammi Matoush also collected 13 points, marking the second straight game she has scored at least 13 points.
Samantha Weaver provided 10 points and four rebounds off the bench in the victory.
WashU did a great job of sharing the basketball, totaling 21 assists on the day as Molly Gannon led the Bears with five assists.
WU also had a solid day from three-point land, connecting on 10-21 threes with Matoush and Naomi Jackson each hitting three threes apiece in the win.
Statistically, the Bears finished the contest with 14 second chance points, 25 points scored off turnovers, and also outrebounded the Spartans 36-27.
WashU will host UW-Superior for its home-opener on December 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Field House for the 20th Annual McWilliams Classic.
