ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball program is set to host the 22nd Annual McWilliams Classic, one of the nation's most prestigious regular season tournaments, Friday-Saturday, December 1-2. The four-game weekend will see two contests on Friday and Saturday.
The Bears will welcome DePauw University, Hanover College, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to St. Louis. All contests will be featured on the WashU Sports Network, with Jay Murry on the call.
Game Schedule
Friday, December 1
- 5 p.m. | DePauw vs UW-Oshkosh
- 7 p.m. | WashU vs Hanover
Saturday, December 2
- 3 p.m. | DePauw vs Hanover
- 5 p.m. | WashU vs UW-Oshkosh
Live Coverage Links – Classic Information
The McWilliams Classic central page, which contains information regarding live stats and live video coverage, can be accessed here.
The tournament central page also contains information regarding each participating team.
WashU's Leaders
With five games already in the books, the Bears own a record of 2-3. Entering the classic, first-year Lexy Harris tops the team with 67 points, while averaging 13.4 points per game. Harris leads the Bears with 41 rebounds and six blocks.
Harris has earned point totals of 20 (vs DePauw), 19 (vs Illinois Wesleyan), and 18 (vs Johns Hopkins).
Sophomore Nailah McBeth currently sits second on the team with 62 total points (12.4 points per game). McBeth has converted 26 field goals, which leads the team. McBeth owns the second-most rebounds, with 36.
Additionally, first-year Alyssa Hughes has seen early success from beyond the arc. Hughes tops the team with 12 three-point field goals and has a .429 shooting percentage from deep. Hughes is averaging 2.4 made threes a game.
Scouting DePauw
Just like the Bears, DePauw enters the classic with a 2-3 record. The Bears and Tigers met on the hardwood just one week ago in which WashU won, 72-59.
DePauw utilizes a balanced scoring attack, with Riley Mont the Tigers leading scorer (38 points on the year). Mont is averaging 9.5 points a game. Ava Hassel (36 points), Ainsley Boras (32 points), and Diana Burgher (28 points) round out the top-five leading scorers.
Mont leads DePauw with 13 made field goals, while Boras and Hassel are tied for second with 12.
The Tigers defeated Calvin (76-48) and Rose-Hulman (76-60) for the programs two wins this season.
Scouting Hanover
The Panthers bring their 2-2 record to St. Louis. Hanover took down Simpson (83-64) and Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Earlham (75-59).
Through four games, Grace Bezold is averaging 26.2 points a game and has already racked up 105 points this season. Bezold has point totals of 41, 27, 21, and 16 to begin her junior season.
As of Tuesday, November 28, Bezold ranks fourth in NCAA Division III with 26.2 points per game.
After Bezold, Katherine Benter is the Panthers second-leading scorer with 45 points (11.3 points per game). Kylah Lawson has added 39 points for Hanover.
Bezold has connected on 40 of her 80 field goal attempts. The Panthers most dangerous long ball threat is Benter, who has drilled six threes.
On the glass, Bezold is averaging 9.0 rebounds per contest and has grabbed 11 offensive boards.
Scouting UW-Oshkosh
The Titans, who are receiving votes in the latest d3hoops.com top-25 poll, own a record of 4-1. Oshkosh's lone loss of the season came at the hands of Wheaton (Ill.) by a final score of 69-58.
The Titans have defeated Dubuque (70-52), Olivet (80-27), Northland (83-17), and Benedictine (67-41).
As of Tuesday, November 28, Oshkosh sits second in NCAA Division III in scoring defense, having allowed 41.2 points per game. Haverford leads Division III by only allowing 40.8 points per game.
Additionally, the Titans rank fourth in NCAA Division III in scoring margin (30.4). The Titans are putting up 71.6 points per game and are only allowing 41.2 points per game.
Kayce Vaile leads the Titans with 10.4 points per game and has accumulated 52 points in five games.
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 program. 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.
