The visiting Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team shot a scorching 67-percent from the floor in an 86-76 road victory over the University of Rochester on Friday evening at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
 
The Bears (11-4, 2-2 UAA) were nearly perfect in the opening quarter of the game, making 16-of-18 shots (89%), scoring a whopping 39 points over the ten-minute period. Rochester (8-7, 1-3 UAA) was also solid in the first quarter, putting up 27 points, but saw the hot-shooting Bears maintain their double-digit lead.
 
In the second, Rochester outscored WashU 14-11, cutting into the lead after the Bears shooting came back to earth. At halftime, WashU led 50-41.
 
WashU was lights out again in the third quarter, hitting on 9-of-10 attempts from the floor, outscoring the Yellowjackets by seven to increase the lead once again.
 
Early in the final period, Rochester used an 11-0 run to get back within seven points with under five minutes remaining on the clock. Tia Poulakidas, Annelise Dexter and Grace Corelli hit 3-pointers in the run, with Corelli's bucket making the score 75-68 WashU with 4:50 left.
 
On the ensuing Bears possession, Jessica Brooks slipped open in the corner and saw her 3-pointer bounce in off the rim, zapping Rochester's momentum and regaining the WashU 10-point lead.
 
The Brooks triple kickstarted a 7-point burst for the visitors as WashU's lead was built back up to 14 after baskets from Lexy Harris and Nailah McBeth.
 
UR answered with two Corelli free throws and a pair of steals that led to layups from Poulakidas and Erin Lillis that trimmed the deficit to eight with 1:16 on the clock.
 
Down the stretch, the Bears hit enough free throws, 4-of-6 in the final minute, to hold on for the 10-point win.
 
Poulakidas hit 4-for-4 from 3-point range en route to a career-high 20 points in the loss. Corelli finished with a season-high 13 off the bench, adding four assists and a pair of triples. As a team, UR sank 12-of-30 3-pointers, matching a season high in makes.
 
Abby Gress added 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals while six others had five points or more.
 
For the Bears, Harris and Brooks were the leading scorers with 41 combined points. Harris finished with a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Brooks had 20 points and five boards. Catherine Goodwin posted solid all-around numbers with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.
 
WashU was able to win despite turning the ball over 23 times, with Rochester committing just 11 turnovers in the loss.

Friday night's game was part of the UR women's basketball alumni weekend, with the program celebrating 55 years in the 2024-25 season. Several alums made it back to the River Campus for the game and will take part in an alumni game on Saturday. Gretchen Herbert, class of 1984, was honored at halftime with the Athletics and Recreation Garnish Memorial Citation award, honoring her long-time commitment and support of the intercollegiate athletic program at the University.
 
Both teams are back in action on Sunday to complete the UAA weekend. Rochester hosts the University of Chicago at 11 am in the Palestra, while the Bears travel to Emory University for a noon tipoff.