Washington University dominated both Brandeis University and New York University this weekend, defeating the Judges 74-56 on Friday night and defeating the Violets 71-55 Sunday in the Field House. The Lady Bears are now 18-6 (10-3) UAA and will end the season on March 1 against the University of Chicago.

Due to a Brandeis loss to Chicago and a Rochester loss to Emory, Saturday’s game in Chicago will be an outright battle for the UAA title. The Lady Bears and the Maroons last squared off on January 12, a battle Wash. U. won 67-56.

Sophomore Janice Evans led the charge this weekend with 14 points and 13 rebounds Friday night and 19 points and seven rebounds on Sunday. Friday night marked her second career double-double.

Sophomore Zo‰ Unruh and junior Halsey Ward also had monster games on Sunday. Unruh scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half and shot 3-5 from behind the arc while Ward notched her first career double-double, scoring 12 points on four three-pointers and grabbing 10 rebounds. Freshmen Alex Hoover and Kathryn Berger also scored eight points in Sunday’s win.

The Red and Green offense ran according to form this weekend.

“We wanted to extend their zone so we could get some more looks inside, and we got a lot of high post shots. Our philosophy is to look more inside-outside,” stated Evans.

“I think confidence really plays a big factor when you’re playing against a zone. We started going inside-out. Looking more inside is what helped us get shots outside,” added Unruh in explaining Wash. U.’s effectiveness against the zone.

The defense also put up an impressive showing, holding NYU star Jessica McEntee to 15 points and 10 rebounds, six points under her season average.

“I think it was a function of our intensity of our defense. We upped the intensity a lot more than in the past,” added Unruh.

“We put a lot of focus on our defensive efforts preparing for these two games. Brandeis is also a really good team, so we focused on upping our defensive intensity, and it paid off,” added co-captain Sarah Tibesar.

Sunday also marked Senior Day at Washington University, and the school honored Tibesar, its lone senior, for her three years of playing for the team.

“It’s a really exciting day. We always get really excited to play NYU. They’re always a really talented team, and it’s always a good game. I’m really happy that my last home game got to be a win,” added Tibesar.

Saturday’s contest with the University of Chicago is all that stands between Wash. U. and its 11th consecutive UAA title. The Lady Bears only shared the title twice in the previous ten seasons, in 2003-2004 and 2006-2007 with NYU.

“We’re so psyched. It’s awesome that it’s just the two of us standing alone at the top, and whoever wins next week is the standalone champion. We’re excited to go up there and play them on their own court,” said Tibesar.

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