ATLANTA, Ga. – Wrapping up its first away conference weekend of the season, the RV Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team picked up a 67-56 UAA win over Emory on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. With the win, the Bears improved to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the UAA.
For the second-straight game, graduate Jessica Brooks and sophomore Lexy Harris led the Bears in scoring, this time with 19 points each. Not only did Brooks record her eighth double-double of the season, but her 17 rebounds set a new career record.
Two other Bears reached double-figures in a statistical category. Sophomore Alyssa Hughes scored 14 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Meanwhile junior Nailah McBeth recorded a career-high 16 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards.
As a team, WashU out rebounded the Eagles 54-32, leading to the Bears' edge in second chance points, 16-7.
The WashU starters scored all but two points in the contest, the fewest bench points scored this season.
The first half of the first quarter was a back and forth contest that saw the Bears hold a 10-9 lead with 5:04 remaining on a three pointer from Hughes. The teams would then lock in for its second tie of the quarter at 12-12 with 2:35 left.
However, Emory went onto score a quick layup to take a three-point lead with 1:26 remaining. A free throw by Brooks brought the Eagles' lead back down to two, but a layup by the home team with 47 seconds left closed out the scoring in the quarter that saw Emory lead, 17-13.
WashU opened the second quarter with the first five points to retake the lead on a layup from junior Jordan Rich at 7:51. For nearly the next five and a half minutes, the Eagles slowly would retake the lead and build it up to their biggest of the game at 26-21 with 2:33 left in the period.
That was when the Bears' offense kicked in and went on a 6-0 run to close out the half with a pair of free throws from Hughes and a layup and two, free throws from Brooks that once again gave WashU the lead at the break.
The scoring did not stop for the Bears at the break as WashU scored the first six points of the second half to take a seven-point lead at 8:06. The Eagles would make a pair of free throws at 7:54 to stop their scoring drought, one that lasted 4:39, going back to the first half.
The Bears would see their lead grow to as many as nine at 6:53 and fall to as little as two at 4:08 before answering Emory's scoring. The Eagles would eventually retake the lead on a three pointer, 46-44, at 1:28, but could not maintain it as the teams headed into the fourth quarter tied at 50-50.
It once again became a back and forth contest with the Bears holding a two-point advantage with 5:10 remaining in the contest, 58-56. The WashU defense then kicked into drive while the offense continued to add to the scoreboard. Emory would not score again while Hughes, McBeth, Harris, and sophomore Catherine Goodwin all put points on the board to close out the 67-56 win for the Bears.
WashU returns home next weekend when they welcome Brandeis to the Field House on Friday, Jan. 31 for the annual Hardy Strong and Think Pink game. Tip-off with the Judges is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
