ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Behind a first half double-double from first-year Lexy Harris, the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team powered past Fontbonne University, 93-51, Saturday, December 16. Head coach Randi Henderson deployed 11 Bears in the contest and each Bear that saw action recorded at least two points in the victory. With the win, WashU's record climbed to 5-4, while Fontbonne's record slipped to 0-10. 

 

Harris, who collected a double-double in the first 20 minutes, ended the game with career-highs of 37 points and 20 rebounds. Harris grabbed 10 offensive boards, swiped three steals, and secured a pair of rejections. For the year, Harris has earned five double-doubles. 

 

First-year Alyssa Hughes connected on four long balls and accumulated 12 points. First-year Sidney Rogers topped double-digits with 10 points.  

 

Sophomore Jordan Rich added seven points in the victory. 

 

Senior Jessica Brooks recorded a game-high four assists. 

 

As the team, the Bears sank 38-of-75 field goal attempts (50.7%). Additionally, WashU drained 9-of-29 long balls (31.0%) and hit 8-of-12 from the charity stripe (66.7%). On the other hand, Fontbonne finished the game with a field goal percentage of 27.7 (18-of-65). 

 

WashU made its presence known in the paint by racking up 58 points in the paint, compared to the Griffins' 12 points in the paint. The Bears took advantage of Fontbonne's miscues by securing a 23-point margin (26-3) in points off turnovers. 

 

In the opening period, the Griffins took the early 5-2 lead. However, buckets from first-year Catherine Goodwin and Harris gave the Bears the one-point, 6-5, lead with 6:50 left in the first. With back-and-forth action in the middle portion of the quarter, Harris grabbed a layup to push the Bears ahead by four, 15-11, with 2:18 remaining in the first period. 

 

After a Harris defensive rebound, Rogers connected on a layup to push WashU's lead to eight, 19-11. With 22 seconds left in the first, Fontbonne drilled a three to cut the lead to five after the first 10 minutes of action. 

 

In the second, WashU outscored Fontbonne by 16 to generate the 21-point, 42-21, halftime advantage. After a Griffins free throw with 6:05 left in the second, the Bears did not allow a basket the rest of the period. WashU then went on a 16-0 run to close out the half. 

 

In the run, Hughes nailed a pair of threes, while Harris and Rich each collected four points. 

 

After the halftime intermission, WashU held at least a 20-point lead for the remainder of the contest.  

 

The Bears ended the third quarter on a 9-0 run and took a 34-point, 69-35, lead going into the fourth period. 

 

WashU grabbed the 93-51 win over Fontbonne as the Bears recorded a season-high point total. 

 

The Bears will travel to Waverly, Iowa to compete in Wartburg's two-day tournament, Friday-Saturday, December 29-30. The Bears will take on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Friday at 3 p.m. to begin the tournament. Depending on Friday's results, WashU will conclude the event with a game against Crown College, or host, Wartburg College, Saturday, at either 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.