ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The No. 15/18 Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team had a big second half en route to a 62-49 win over Brandeis on Sunday afternoon in UAA play. The Bears are now 12-4 on the year with a 3-2 mark in conference action.
 
Junior Lexy Harris posted her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Jordan Rich scored a career-high 17 points and recorded four blocks while junior Catherine Goodwin scored 12 points.
 
The Bears scored the first points of the game as Rich netted a pair of free throws. Brandeis pulled even with a jumper from Saviah Shabazz and junior Catherine Goodwin put in a layup to put WashU ahead 4-2 just over two minutes into play.
 
Midway through the first quarter, junior Lexy Harris hit a jumper on a pass from junior Sidney Rogers, putting the Bears up 6-4 and a free throw from Rich with 57 seconds remaining in the first put WashU up 7-5 entering the second quarter.
 
The Bears went ahead 9-7 with 6:43 in the second off a layup from Harris, which would be the last time they held the lead until the end of the third quarter.
 
Brandeis responded with a 9-0 run to take a 15-9 edge over the Bears with 4:32 on the clock in the second quarter. A pair of free throws from sophomore Amelisa Rosin stopped the run and made it a four-point, 15-11 game.
 
WashU scored the final four points of the second quarter on a layup from Rosin and a 3-pointer from Rich, sending the Bears into the break trailing 21-18 to the Judges.
 
It was in the latter half of the third quarter that the Bears got into a scoring groove to eventually take the lead.
 
Down six points midway through the third, Goodwin put in a layup and Harris had a turnaround jumper. After a Brandeis free throw, Rich his another 3-pointer to tie the game at 32 apiece. Brandeis' Elena Delicado put in a layup and a free throw before Harris netted a pair of free throws. It was sophomore Sydney Starks who gave the Bears their first lead since the second quarter with a 3-pointer to make it a 37-35 game with 39 seconds left in the third.
 
Rich opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer from the wing, extending WashU's lead to five points, 40-35. Brandeis's Claire Candela netted a layup before the Bears scored five-straight on a jumper from Harris and an and-one play from Rogers for a 45-38 lead at 7:38.
 
A jumper from Harris followed by a pair of free throws from Rogers extended the Bears' lead to their largest yet, nine points, 49-40, midway through the fourth quarter.
 
In the final 1:30 of the game, the Bears outscored Brandeis 10-3, starting with a 3-pointer from Rich. Goodwin hit four-straight free throws and Rich followed with one free throw. Rogers closed out the game with two free throws at the 33 second mark for the 62-49.
 
WashU finished 18-for-57 (31.6%) and 5-for-19 (26.3%) from 3-point range. The Bears had 14 points off Brandeis turnovers.
 
The Bears are back home next weekend, starting with a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday, January 30 against Emory, which will be the Think Pink Game and Neighbors' Day. On Sunday, February 1, WashU will host Rochester at 12 p.m., which will be the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration.
 
-------

Elevating scholar-champions requires resources beyond the institutional budget. Through the W Club, generous alumni, parents, and friends provide unrestricted support that is essential to the extraordinary WashU student-athlete experience—and the ongoing growth and development of the department. Annual support for Athletics allows the Bears to consistently rise to national levels of competition and ensures that our student-athletes enjoy exceptional opportunities as they train, compete, and lead. To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Athletics, please visit our secure online giving form or contact the Athletics Advancement