10th-Ranked Bears Start Fast In Victory Over Titans

Washington University (Mo.) bolted to a 10-0 lead and cruised to a 61-48 women's basketball win over UW-Oshkosh on Thursday (Dec. 29) in Waverly, Iowa. The Bears, who have won 89 of their last 104 games, entered the contest ranked 10th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.

Claire Schaeperkoetter and Bethany Morrison each converted an early three-point shot to give Washington University (9-1) a double-digit lead after four minutes of play. Schaeperkoetter finished the contest with a team-high 17 points, including five three-point baskets.

Sarah Stecker (So. • Menasha) and Megan Wenig (Jr. • Oshkosh) were the only UW-Oshkosh players to score in the game's opening 15 minutes. A three-pointer by Wenig made it a 20-9 deficit with 9:43 on the clock. Washington University then staged a 15-4 scoring run, featuring three three-point baskets by Schaeperkoetter, to take a 35-13 halftime lead.

UW-Oshkosh chipped away with long-range jumpers by Nichole Paisar (Fr. • Leopolis) and Alicia Tollefson (Fr. • Crystal Falls, Mich.) to make it a 41-25 deficit with 14:33 remaining. Down by 20 points, the Titans posted a 14-3 scoring run to make their deficit 53-44 with 3:25 left. Washington University, which captured the 2010 NCAA Division III national title, then scored eight of the next 12 points to seal its fifth straight win.

UW-Oshkosh (6-5) received 18 points and three rebounds from Wenig, 12 points and three rebounds from Stecker and six points and eight rebounds from Kelsey Myklebust (Sr. • Wisconsin Dells).

The Titans shot 28.8 percent (15-52) from the field after shooting just 12.5 percent (3-24) in the first half. UW-Oshkosh made 62.5 percent (15-24) of its free throws and 37.5 percent (3-8) of its three-point shots. The Titans collected 38 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive end, and committed 15 turnovers.

Washington University had two other double-figure scorers in Annie Sayers and Melissa Gilkey. Sayers contributed 15 points and four rebounds, while Gilkey added 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Bears shot 45.7 percent (21-46) from the field and 76.5 percent (13-17) from the free-throw line. Washington University, which grabbed 34 rebounds and lost the basketball 14 times, made 35.3 percent (6-17) of its three-point shots.

UW-Oshkosh lines up against Westminster College (Mo.) on Friday (Dec. 30) in Waverly, Iowa.