WALTHAM, Mass. - Behind a balanced offensive attack, the RV Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team overpowered Brandies University, 83-48, in University Athletic Association action, Sunday, January 21. In the victory, five Bears recorded double-digit scoring totals. WashU's defense played a major factor in the win, allowing just 18 second half points.
The win, which ended WashU's three-game skid, upped the Bears' record to 9-7 (2-3 UAA). With the setback, Brandeis' record now sits at 4-12 (0-5 UAA).
First year
Sidney Rogers assembled a stat stuffing performance to lead the Bears past the Judges. Rogers poured in a game-high 20 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists. Rogers finished the contest shooting 6-for-12 from the floor and welcomed a perfect, 6-for-6, afternoon at the charity stripe.
In just 14 minutes of action, first year
Lexy Harris racked up 17 points and five rebounds. Harris also shot a perfect 100% from the charity stripe (7-for-7) and drilled five field goals.
Senior
Jessica Brooks added a near double-double. Brooks registered 14 points and eight boards for the Bears.
As a team, WashU connected on 27-of-58 (46.6%) field goal attempts, 5-of-19 (26.3%) from long range, and 24-of-34 (70.6%) from the free throw line.
WashU's defense held the Judges to a 27.3 field goal percentage (15-of-55). Additionally, the Bears turned 23 Brandeis turnovers into 19 points.
The Bears generated the large, 42-14, advantage in points in the paint.
Harris got the scoring started early in the first quarter for WashU. After a missed layup, Harris corralled her own tip-in rebound to give the Bears the 2-0 lead, just 20 seconds into the contest. After each team exchanged buckets, Brooks forced a Brandeis turnover and then drilled a layup on the ensuing possession to open up the 8-5 cushion with 6:34 left in the first.
With the Bears up a pair, 12-10, Harris drilled four free throws to push WashU's advantage to six, 16-10, with 1:41 remaining. Brandeis evened the score late in the first with a free throw. With five ticks remaining in the first quarter, Rogers hit a long ball to generate the three-point, 21-18, first quarter lead.
In the middle of the second quarter, WashU went on a 6-0 run to create the nine-point, 29-20, cushion. The run, which lasted just over a minute, saw points from Hughes, McBeth, and Rogers.
The Bears went on another run, this time a five-point variety, to close out the half. After a three from Brandeis, Brooks connected on a layup to give WashU the 37-30 lead. The following Judges possession saw a Rogers steal, which led to a Bear layup. Junior
Brenna Loftus converted a free throw to push WashU advantage to double-digits (40-30), heading into the halftime intermission.
After the break, Harris welcomed a quick 4-0 run of her own to stretch WashU's advantage to 14, 44-30. The Bears broke the game open in the middle of the third quarter, utilizing a 6-0 run. In the run, Harris earned a tough and-one, then Hughes sunk a three from deep as WashU held the comfortable, 52-34, lead with 4:50 left in the third.
WashU's offense found its stride late in the third, assembling an 11-point run to do so. The run expanded the Bears lead to 23, 62-39, with 1:15 remaining in the third stanza. After 30 minutes of play, WashU earned 22-point, 62-40, advantage.
A layup from first year Sidney Starks with 3:18 left in the fourth opened up WashU's biggest lead of the contest, a 37-point lead, 82-43.
The Bears cruised their way to the comfortable, 83-48, victory.
WashU will travel home to host Carnegie Mellon University, Friday, January 26. The contest will serve as Breast Cancer Awareness/Hardy Strong Game. Tip-off from the Field House is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
