St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team will get set to host the 21st Annual Mcwilliams Classic on November 18-19 at the WU Field House.
This year's field consists of Coe, Millikin, Ohio Wesleyan, and WashU.
On Friday in the first contest, Coe will face Millikin at 5 p.m. with OWU and WashU playing afterwards at 7 p.m.
The winners of each game will meet up in the championship on Saturday at 7 p.m., with the consolation game being played prior at 5 p.m.
The Bears enter this weekend with a 1-0 record after rolling past Dubuque in their season-opener on Sunday, 78-65.
WashU got big performances in the victory from seniors Sammi Matoush and Maya Arnott. Matoush, who matched her career-high in points with 22, knocked down a career-best six three-point field goals in the victory, while Arnott collected 18 points and seven rebounds on 6-7 shooting.
In addition, Arnott was chosen as the 2021 McWilliams Classic MVP after two dominant performances in the Bears' two wins over Berea and UW-Superior.
Furthermore, WU was also selected to finish second in the UAA Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.
Coe also enters the McWilliams Classic undefeated with a 3-0 record, earning wins over Cornell, Monmouth, and Knox. The Kohawks are led in scoring by Molly Buck, who averages 13.3 points per contest.
Defensively, Coe is only allowing 52 points per game, which ranks in the top-30 nationally.
No. 14 Millikin is currently 2-2 on the year. The Big Blue picked up wins over Beloit and Illinois College, but fell twice in the UW-Whitewater Tournament to UW-Stevens Point and No. 4 UW-Whitewater.
The Big Blue return three starters including its top two scorers from last year. Seven of its top 10 players from last year's team are back. Millikin was also picked to repeat as College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in the CCIW Preseason Women's Basketball poll.
Ohio Wesleyan is 2-1 through three games thus far in the 2022-23 season. The Battling Bishops defeated both Defiance and Albion, but dropped an OT contest to Wilmington 62-59. OWU averages 63.7 points per game and is led in scoring by Kasey Schipfer, who averages 18 points per contest.
About the McWilliams Classic
The McWilliams Classic is made possible by a gift from the late Art and Marge McWilliams, veteran boosters of Washington University's athletic program.
The McWilliams family are members of the WashU Sports Hall of Fame and have been integral in the resurgence of the varsity sports programs.
They were active members of the W Club, the support organization for athletics; Art served on its executive committee and was the chair of the William Greenleaf Eliot Society committee. In 1995, the couple provided the funds to construct the McWilliams Fitness Center in the Athletic Complex.
The couple also made a leadership gift toward the Sumers Recreation Center that furthered their support of women's athletics.
In addition to their support of sports and recreation programs, the McWilliams family are longtime benefactors of the Olin Business School.
From the post game meals, to the awards ceremony, everyone involved with the McWilliams Classic would like to thank Art and Marge for helping make the McWilliams Classic one of the top NCAA Division III women's basketball tournaments in the nation.
