When we last left the Washington University women’s basketball team, they had gotten off to an 8-0 start, including an impressive 79-56 win against cross-Wydown rival Fontbonne University on December 11th. At the conclusion of last semester, the Bears were atop the Division III rankings compiled by D3hoops.com. Not much has changed in the new year. So far, 2003 has been just as good. Over winter break, WU added four wins to remain undefeated on the season at 12-0.
On December 14th, the Bears overwhelmed MacMurray College (1-4) at the WU Field House, decisively winning 109-45 and displaying solid performances at both ends of the court. Offensively, the victory marked the first time this season the Bears scored over one hundred points. On defense, WU held MacMurray to a mere 18 points in the first half and 27 in the second, on 25% shooting for the game. Playing time for the Bears was spread among 16 different players, with four scoring in double digits. Junior guard Lesley Hawley led the team with 19 points on 7-8 shooting in only 13 minutes of play. Fellow guard freshman Kelly Manning added 16 points and three rebounds in 14 minutes. Senior Danielle Battle and sophomore Hallie Hutchens added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Shortly after the new year, while some students were watching Miami and Ohio State battle for the NCAA football National Championship, the Bears were hard at work at home, handily defeating Blackburn College (0-7) by a score of 95-53 on January 3rd. WU came out shooting and never looked back. Not only were the Bears able to convert 65 points in the paint, but they shot 47% from the perimeter as well. Senior Laura Crowley connected on 5-7 three pointers and 6-9 shots overall to lead all scorers with 17 points. Four additional WU players scored in double digits, including Battle with 13, Hutchens with 12, senior Jen Rudis with 11 and sophomore Terri Lakowsi with 10.
While many WU students were busy packing and preparing for their journeys back to the Hilltop campus, the women’s basketball team hit the road for their first two road games of 2003. On January 9th, the Bears traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to take on Wisconsin Lutheran College (6-6). Offensively, WU struggled early, missing all six three-point attempts in the first half while capitalizing on only 30% of their shots overall. In addition, they committed seven turnovers in the first ten minutes of the game.
The teams were tied at 19 at halftime, but after making some adjustments, the Bears performed much better in the second period. WU started out the second half with a 10-2 run and then put away with the game and defeated Wisconsin Lutheran 61-47, bringing the Bears’ road game winning streak to a total of 25 games. While the second half surge in scoring was attributable to two players in particular-Manning scored 17 points and Hawley netted 15-Rudis added eight points and nine rebounds and senior Diana Hill contributed six rebounds and five assists as well.
This past weekend the Bears hit the road again, this time traveling north to take on the University of Chicago (5-6) in their first University Athletic Association (UAA) conference game of the season. WU played well from the start and held a commanding 37-25 lead at the half, beating the Maroons 78-51 to improve to 12-0 on the season. Four WU players scored in double digits-Crowley led all scorers with 17 points on 5-8 shooting from three-point range, Hutchens added 16 points and 7 rebounds, Manning netted 14 points and six boards, and Battle contributed 10 points. The Bears capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes by scoring 22 points off Maroon turnovers and converting 19 second-chance points. The Bears UAA Conference schedule resumes this Friday in Cleveland when they travel to Ohio to take on Case Western Reserve University at 6 p.m. followed by a trip south to Atlanta to play Emory University on Sunday afternoon.