The No. 5 women’s basketball team hit three 3-pointers with under a minute to play but was unable to come back from an 11-point second-half deficit in a 73-71 loss at the University of Chicago in the University Athletic Association (UAA) opener for both teams Jan. 8.
Junior Dani Hoover led the Bears with a career-high 17 points and a personal best five 3-point field goals, while sophomore Kristin Anda (13 points) and senior Kathryn Berger (13 points) also scored in double figures. The Bears trailed by eight points with under a minute to play when Hoover drilled a three to make the score 70-65 and following a pair of Joann Torres free-throws Hoover struck again, with another three to cut the Chicago lead to four.
The Maroons’ Bryanne Halfhill hit 1-of-2 free-throws to put Chicago in front by five, but the Bears came right down the court and drained another three, this time from Berger, to make it a one-possession game.
Following a timeout, WUSTL came up with the defensive stop it needed, when Berger tied up Morgan Herrick at the top of the key to create a last-chance opportunity for the Bears, but Hoover’s floater was blocked by Morgan Herrick.
The Bears (9-3, 0-1 UAA) return to action at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, hosting Emory University at the Field House.