Barring the phenomenally unlikely, the No. 7 Washington University women’s basketball team will play in the NCAA Tournament come March. In order to absolutely guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs, however, the Bears will have to clinch the conference championship. Luckily for them, there is a de facto title game happening this Saturday as the Bears (11-2 UAA) host the University of Chicago (11-2 UAA) in the Wash. U. Field House. The winner will earn the UAA crown and the automatic playoff bid that comes with it.

If the Bears are able to pull off a victory, it will be their fourth straight conference title.

This showdown is hitting the Red and Green at the right time. The Bears are undefeated in their last ten games and currently hold a near-spotless 22-2 record. It’s important to note, however, that the Maroons are on a streak of their own. The Maroons are undefeated in the month of February, a span of six games with an average margin of victory of 21.2 points.

Here is a look at some key points before the Red and Green suit up with UAA glory on the line.

Senior Jenn Dynis goes up for the tip off in Wash. U.’s game aganist New York University. The Bears look to take home
another UAA championship this weekend in a contest against the University of Chicago this weekend in the Wash. U. Field House.

Offensive Efficiency

Much of the Bears’ success this season has come from their offensive efficiency—Wash. U. has a season field goal percentage of 46.1 percent, the sixth-best mark in Division III.

“I really think it has to do with us sharing the ball well and making sure we make the extra pass to get a good shot,” senior forward Zoe Vernon said. “Also, a big focus this year has been our inside play, so we have gotten a lot of high percentage shots that are close to the basket.”

Another factor of their efficiency has been the Bears’ ability to hold onto the ball. Their assist-to-turnover ratio, at 1.33, is the third-best in Division III, averaging 17.4 assists to only 13 turnovers per matchup. Sophomore forward Madeline Homoly credits head coach Nancy Fahey for that mark.

“[She] is such an excellent coach, and she has prepared with different plays and strategies within our system that allow us to counter many different types of defenses,” Homoly said.

Bench Warriors

Fahey is known for utilizing her whole roster, and this season has been no different. Four bench players currently average four or more points per game. Leading the second unit is Homoly, who averages a team-high 13.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Homoly has also exhibited the ability to take over the offense, scoring 24-plus points five times this season.

Sophomore guard Becca Clark-Callender is another member of the second unit that has been clutch in late-game moments, recently propelling the Bears to a win in the final minute of a tight game against Rochester two weeks ago. She’s also a big part of Wash. U.’s impeccable ball movement—her 3.3 assists per game put her at fourth in the UAA.

Scouting Chicago

Despite the Bears routinely entering the matchup as the favorite, Chicago has played Wash. U. tough the past two years. Since last season, the Red and Green are 1-2 against the Maroons. This includes the Bears’ first loss of this season. Chicago dropped the Bears 75-68 in early January, with a 15-1 run in the third quarter. In that game, the Maroons were propelled by an 8-19 shooting performance from beyond the arc.

When the Bears look to even the score against Chicago, they’ll have to worry about the Maroons’ up-tempo offense, which averages 74.4 points per game, the third-best mark in the UAA. Slowing down the pace of play is something that Wash. U. has been successful at in recent weeks. Last weekend against New York University, the Red and Green held the Violets to a paltry 37 points and 25 percent shooting from the floor.

Maroons to watch

On the Chicago offense, look for Chicago senior forward Britta Nordstrom, who leads the team with 12.9 points per game while pulling down 6.5 rebounds per game. Her 53.3 field goal percentage is fifth-best in the UAA.

The Bears will also have to pay close attention to freshman Taylor Lake, who went off for a career-high 23 points against Wash. U. earlier this season. She’s averaging 9.9 points per game and has a 48.9 field goal percentage off the bench this season.

Home sweet home

The Bears should be happy that they get to host this decisive showdown. Wash. U. is currently 11-0 in the Wash. U. Field House this season and own an overall record of 188-11 against UAA opponents at home in their history.