ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – There was no doubt from tip-off that the No. 18 Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team was going to win. With the help of sophomore Lexy Harris' 20 points and senior Jessica Brooks earning her 1,000th career point, the Bears picked up a dominating 99-40 win over Saint Mary's (Ind.) in the championship game of the Hyatt Place Tournament hosted by Augustana.
Harris scored the first points of the game just 12 seconds into the first quarter and WashU never trailed the rest of the way. The Belles were only able to tie the score one time, on a three-pointer with 6:09 left in the period, before the Bears closed out the first quarter on an 17-5 run to take a 25-13 lead into the second quarter.
WashU out rebounded Saint Mary's in the first 10 minutes, grabbing 19 boards to just four for the Belles. 21 of the Bears' 25 points were scored on fast break attempts, keeping SMC off a rhythm.
Like much of the first, WashU was able to keep the Belles at bay, allowing just three points in the first five minutes while 13 during that time to stretch out the lead to 38-16 with 4:40 remaining in the first half.
With the Bears leading 45-19, Brooks was fouled with just three seconds left in the period, sending her to the free throw line for two shots. On her first attempt, she sent the ball through for her ninth point of the game and the 1,000th point of her career. She added her 1,001st on her second free throw, giving WashU the 47-19 lead at the break.
WashU outscored its opponent 22-6 in the second quarter, shooting 9-of-15 from the floor.
Taking their 28 point lead into the second half, the Bears continued to extend it in the third quarter. WashU pushed its advantage to as many as 36 on a layup by first-year Ava Blagojevich at 2:31 left in the period, 61-25.
Despite four points by the Belles, the Bears settled in for the 34 point lead going into the fourth quarter.
WashU scored more points in the fourth quarter (33) than Saint Mary's scored in the first three combined (32). The Belles were able to add eight points to their total, but the dominating performance by WashU saw the Bears just one point shy of triple-digits with the 99-40 win.
Harris' 20 points led all scorers on the day and she was one of five Bears in double-figures. Brooks (14), sophomore Sidney Rogers (12), first-year Hope Drake (11), and sophomore Alyssa Hughes (11) also reached double-digits in scoring.
A total of 13 different WashU players scored in the game.
In addition to her 20 points, Harris also grabbed 17 rebounds, tying her career-high she had set last season on Dec. 16, 2023, against Fontbonne. It marked her first double-double of the season and the sixth of her career.
As a team, the Bears led the Belles in rebounds (53-23), assists (25-3), bench points (50-10), blocks (10-0), points off turnovers (34-5), and second chance points (25-4).
For their efforts over the two games, Harris and Rogers were both named to the All-Tournament Team, with Harris being named the Tournament MVP. Harris averaged 23.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the two games while Rogers scoring 15.0 points per game and five assists per game on the weekend.
WashU will return to St. Louis next weekend for their home opener on Friday, Nov. 22 against Lyon College at 7 p.m. in the second game of the 2024 McWilliams Classic. The first game of the tournament will feature Illinois Wesleyan and 2022 National Champion Transylvania at 5 p.m. on Nov. 22.
The two losers will face off in the consolation game on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. with the championships game to follow at 5 p.m.
