Washington University’s women’s basketball team began to turn around its season this weekend, winning the Viking Classic in Chicago. These wins were especially important after the team’s rough start and could prove to be a crucial turning point as play continues.
In its first game, the twelfth-ranked Bears defeated St. Mary’s College 66-62, bringing their season record to 3-3.
Senior forward Rebecca Parker came up big on Saturday, achieving her third double-double of the season with twenty points and fourteen rebounds. But it was freshman wing Zo‰ Unruh who proved to be the Bears most clutch player of the day. Unruh scored eleven of her fifteen points in the second half, including three baskets in a row after the Bears experienced a five-minute scoring drought.
In the championship game, the Bears easily defeated North Park University 58-34, bringing their season record to 4-3. This is the first time all season the Red and Green have had a winning record.
Defense was the story of this game, as the half-time score was only 17-8. The Bears dominated play throughout the entire game. At one point in the first half, the team held North Park scoreless for over seven minutes.
Parker again led the Bears in scoring with seventeen points. Forward Jamie McFarlin also came up big for WashU. The sophomore added a double-double, tallying with 13 points and an unheard-of 20 rebounds, the highest of her collegiate career. Sophomore guard Shanna-Lei Decanay helped the Bears pull away for good, scoring nine points in the final four minutes of regulation.
This momentum from this successful weekend should help Wash U begin to regain its form from last season. The team returns home next weekend, facing McKendree College at 7 PM Saturday at the Field House.