DUBUQUE, Iowa – In a day that saw senior Jessica Brooks make her season-debut, the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team outscored University of Dubuque 37-29 in the second half to secure the nine-point, 63-54, victory, Saturday, December 9. Three Bears recorded double-digit point totals to put WashU's record at .500, 4-4, while UD's record slipped to 5-4. 

 

First-year Lexy Harris notched her fourth double-double of the season with game-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds.  

 

First-years Sidney Rogers (16 points) and Alyssa Hughes (12 points) each topped double-figures. Rogers and Hughes each drained four threes for the Bears. 

 

In her 2023-24 debut, Brooks assembled nine points, seven rebounds, and four assists. 

 

Sophomore Jordan Rich added six points, all of which came from beyond the arc. 

 

As a team, the Bears sunk a season-high 11 threes and finished the contest 11-for-25 (44.0%) from long range. 

 

Additionally, WashU grabbed a 36.2 field goal percentage (21-for-58) and converted on 10-of-15 free throw attempts (66.7%). 

 

WashU's bench outscored the Spartans bench by a clip of 31-19. UD added 28 points in the paint, compared to WashU's 20, while both teams added five points in transition. Dubuque held the upper hand in points off turnovers, 17-9.  

 

In the opening period, the Bears started the contest on a three minute and 14 second drought. However, Rogers got WashU on the board with a long ball as the Bears held the slim, 3-1, advantage. After a Dubuque layup, Rich connected on a three halfway through the first quarter to give WashU the three-point, 6-3, cushion. 

 

Later in the quarter, the Spartans went on a 4-0 run to take the 11-8 lead with 2:35 remaining. Hughes evened the score at 11-11 on a three pointer as the first quarter came to an end. 

 

The Bears then opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run of their own to hold the 15-11 advantage. The run saw a Harris free throw and a Hughes three. WashU held the Spartans scoreless for nearly four and a half minutes before UD connected on a three to trim the deficit to just one, 15-14. 

 

With WashU up a pair, Rich nailed a long ball to push the lead to five, 21-16, with 4:54 left in the second. 

 

The Spartans turned in an 8-0 run to erase the deficit as UD took the two-point, 25-23, lead. With nine seconds left before the break, Brooks welcomed an and-one to give WashU the one-point, 26-25, advantage at halftime. 

 

After the intermission, the Bears generated a 6-0 run to secure the seven-point, 32-25, cushion. The run saw a Hughes three and a Harris and-one. 

 

With back-and-forth play ensuing, two Rogers three throws put WashU up by five, 38-33, with 3:01 left in the third. Harris ended the third quarter scoring with a layup to put the Bears in front, 43-37, with 10 minutes of play remaining. 

 

In the fourth, after a Dubuque turnover, first-year Catherine Goodwin drained a three to push WashU's cushion to double-digits, 55-45, with just 5:40 left in the contest. 

 

Harris sealed the victory with another and-on to give the Bears a 12-point cushion with just over a minute left. 

 

Dubuque attempted a comeback with a barrage of threes, but a Hughes block thwarted UD's comeback efforts as WashU left Dubuque with the 63-54 victory.  

 

The Bears will return to the Field House for a matchup with the Fontbonne University Griffins, Saturday, December 16. Tip off from St. Louis is scheduled for 3 p.m. The contest will serve as the backend of a double dip with the men's basketball team.