*Washington University in St. Louis has temporarily changed its spectator policy for home events. Spectators will no longer be allowed at home sporting events until further notice.*

St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team bounced back with a 71-64 victory over Westminster College on Friday afternoon at the Field House to close out 2021. 

The Bears outscored the Blue Jays 45-36 in the second half and improve to 5-5 on the season with the win as they remain perfect at home (4-0). 

In addition, WashU shared the ball well throughout the afternoon, earning a season-high 22 assists as they shot 43 percent from the field.

However, the Bears struggled in the first period to find their groove after shooting just 4-16 with seven turnovers and found themselves trailing 17-9. 

Facing a double-digit deficit at 24-12, the Bears clawed their way back into the contest and responded with a 14-4 run to close out the second quarter to make it a 28-26 ball game at the half. 

WashU took the lead at 31-28 early in the third after a three-point field goal from Sammi Matoush, but Westiminster used a quick 10-0 run to reclaim a 38-31 lead. 

Once again, the Bears battled back using a 15-6 run to take a 46-44 lead heading into the fourth.

Matoush scored eight points in the quarter and WU shot 47 percent from the field, along with 50 percent shooting from behind the arc. 

Sabrina DelBello and Jessica Brooks both stepped up in the fourth quarter and each scored eight points apiece to help keep the Bears ahead. 

DelBello and Brooks accounted for the first seven points in the Bears' 7-0 run to open the quarter, which extended the lead out to 53-44. 

WashU's largest lead of the afternoon was 11 at 60-49, after DelBello drained her second three of the quarter. 

The Blue Jays cut the lead down to four at 60-56, but the Bears would not let the lead drop any further and maintained at least a six-point advantage the rest of the way. 

In total, it was a balanced scoring attack for WU, as Sammi Matoush, Lauren Chao, and Sabrina DelBello each scored 11 points apiece. 

Chao recorded a team-best seven rebounds along with two blocks as she notched double figures scoring for the second time this season, while DelBello scored a season-high. 

Jessica Brooks added 10 points and Samantha Weaver finished with nine points and five assists. 

Karisa Grandison tallied six points and six rebounds, and Molly Gannon collected five points with a team-high six assists. 

Defensively, WashU posted nine total blocked shots with Hayley Semple leading the way with three. 

WashU will return to action tomorrow on New Year's Day at the Field House against Greenville at 2:00 p.m.