Even though the third-ranked Washington University women’s basketball team had already won the University Athletic Association (UAA) conference title and had gained an automatic bid to the postseason, the squad did not rest as they went into their last regular-season game against the University of Chicago on Saturday. Setting UAA records and moving up on University’s all-time lists, the Bears seized every opportunity in their 87-77 win.

Senior captain Kelly Manning scored a UAA-record 39 points, the second most in school history, on 14-of-27 shooting and went nine-for-nine from the free throw line. Manning moved up to eighth all time on the single-season scoring list with 469 total points. She started the game off in commanding fashion, shooting eight-for-11 before finishing the first half with 24 points.

Manning was not the only University player to have an outstanding Saturday, either. Senior Danielle Beehler scored 20 points to move into 10th place on the all-time scoring list with 928. Beehler added 12 rebounds to her 20 points to collect a UAA-leading ninth double-double.

“Leading the conference in double-doubles is not something I would have ever expected,” said Beehler. “It’s really just going into every game telling yourself that every rebound is yours and trusting your teammates to set you up with good shots. But it is definitely very exciting to be the UAA leader, considering that there are so many great players in our conference.”

The Bears took a 47-44 halftime lead while shooting 50 percent and committing only four turnovers. The Maroons refused to quit, tying the game 51-51 at 17:20 in the second half, but the Bears responded with a 14-4 run to pull away to an 87-77 victory.

Behind the stellar play of Manning and Beehler, the victory gave the Bears a 23-2 overall record and 13-1 in conference play. Senior Katie Benson and freshman Shanna-Lei Dacanay added 11 points apiece. Dacanay also added five assists to the team’s 23. Junior Rebecca Parker collected eight rebounds in the victory. The Bears also held the Maroons to 38.8 percent shooting for the game, while collecting seven steals.

“Ending the season on winning three very competitive away games has prepared us well for the adversity we will face in the tournament, and we plan to take the momentum we have built up into the first round,” said Beehler.

The Bears were able to close out the season with a 10-game win streak that will carry them into the postseason. They will await the NCAA tournament pairings on Sunday. For now, the Bears will focus on their game and trying to take things one game at a time as they head into the postseason.

“We are going to focus on us,” said Beehler. “We are going to try and perfect our game and make the other teams have to change what they do to try and adapt to our style of basketball. Preparation and confidence in ourselves will squash the nervousness that may come from playing in the tournament. But we have so much contribution from so many people, and we know and trust that when someone needs to step up, they will be there in the clutch.”

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