St. Louis, Mo. – The Spalding University women's basketball team led 32-29 at the half, but SU allowed the Bears to score 46 second half points as they fell, 75-64. Spalding finishes the season with a 22-5 mark, the most wins in school history.
The first half for the Golden Eagles was excellent. Wash U jumped out to a seven point lead, their biggest of the half, with 15:59 to go. Spalding was able to battle back and take the lead 14-13 with 10:35 remaining. It went back and forth for the rest of the half, and Spalding took a three point lead into the locker room at the break.
Jessica Guy played just 10 minutes in the first half after collecting two fouls. She had just four points and two rebounds at halftime.
Kayla Styles lead all scorers in the first half with 14 on 5-of-13 shooting and 2-of-7 from the three point line. Maddy Scheppers added 11 points for Washington University in the first half to lead the Bears. Scheppers shot 4-of-8 and 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
The second half wasn't the same game for Spalding as they allowed 46 second half points. Melissa Gilkey was a stud in the second half scoring 17 points for the Bears to lead the way. As a team the Bears shot 57 percent raising their game shooting percentage to 45 percent.
From the 12:22 to 7:39 mark, Gilkey scored 12 of Wash U's 14 points. She was combining layups and free throws on the run and at that point the Bears had stretched the lead out to 13 at the under eight timeout. Spalding got some buckets late, but couldn't quite get back within striking distance as the final buzzer went off.
Kayla Styles finished with a game-high 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks and four assists.
Jessica Guy added 12 points to pace the Golden Eagles.
Melissa Gilkey's 17 second half points made her the leading scorer for the Bears as she finished with 23. Maddy Scheppers had a nice shooting night, making eight of 14 shots and 4-of-9 from the three-point arc.
Wash U will move on to play Wittenburg College tomorrow night in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
