St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team fell 70-66 in overtime on Sunday afternoon to UW-Platteville at the Field House.
Sunday's loss is just the first this season for the Bears at home as they move to 6-2 overall on the year.
UW-Platteville won the rebounding margin 45-30 and also collected 15 offensive rebounds, including a 6-8 shooting effort at the foul line in overtime.
For the Bears, Jessica Brooks paced the offense with a season-high 23 points on 8-19 shooting, marking the third consecutive contest the St. Louis native has led WashU in scoring.
Also reaching double figures was Sammi Matoush, who recorded 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Matoush has scored in double figures in six of the Bears' eight contests this season.
In addition, Brenna Loftus posted six points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Nailah McBeth and Karisa Grandison each tabbed seven points apiece.
WashU finished Sunday's game with a 24-61 collective effort as a team, registering a season-low shooting performance (39 percent).
Defensively, the Bears tallied 19 turnovers and scored 20 points off UWP turnovers, along with scoring 40 points inside the paint.
WashU trailed 11-6 early on in the opening period, but quickly extinguished the deficit with a 10-0 run to reclaim a 16-11 lead.
The Pioneers would close out the final minutes of the first scoring the final five points to even up the contest.
In the second, it was another back-and-forth battle as neither team could find much separation in the quarter with both teams combining for 26 points in the frame.
Brooks tallied seven points in the period and the Bears held a 29-26 edge, but UWP hit a three at the buzzer to send the game into halftime tied at 29-29.
UW-Platteville owned the third quarter, outscoring WashU 22-13. After WU maintained a 34-32 lead, the Pioneers went back in front following an 11-4 run for a 43-38 advantage.
UWP shot 8-12 from the foul line in the period and closed out the frame on an 8-2 run to take a 51-42 lead into the fourth.
WashU answered back with great play on both ends right out of the gate in the fourth. The Bears tied up the game five minutes later at 53-53 after a layup from Brooks and then a jumper from Jordan Rich on the ensuing possession capped off a 13-2 run to give the Bears a 55-53 lead.
Down two with under a minute to play, Grandison sank two clutch free throws to tie up the game. WU had an opportunity to win the game on the final possession of regulation, but the shot attempt was no good.
In OT, UWP never trailed and took a 64-61 lead early in the extra period. Matoush's three-point play tied up the game moments later, but the Pioneers would take advantage of offensive rebound opportunities and also shot 6-8 from the free throw line to close out the contest.
The Bears will return to the Field House on Saturday, December 17 at 1 p.m. against non-conference opponent Greenville.
