| Taylor Simpson had 14 points and eight rebounds in Chicago's win. |
No. 2 Chicago and No. 4 Calvin kept their unbeaten streak going with big wins over ranked conference opponents on Satuday afternoon.
No. 2 Chicago put together a 16-0 run early in the second half at No. 8 Washington U. and held on for a 65-62 win in both teams' UAA opener. Two and half minutes into the second half, the Maroons hit back-to-back-to-back threes to seize the lead. The Bears clawed back within one three times, but Bryanne Halfhill nailed a three with six seconds left to seal the Maroons' victory. Chicago (11-0) will host Washington U (10-2) in the conference finale on February 25.
No. 4 Calvin led archrival No. 14 Hope from tip to finish in a 72-59 victory. The Knights built a double-digit lead early as the Flying Dutchmen made just one of their first 11 shots. Calvin held Hope at arm's length down the stretch by making 20 free throws in the second half after taking none in the first half. Courtney Kurncz scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished three assists for the Knights. Calvin freshman Kayla Engelhard scored 16 including 10-for-12 shooting from the free throw line. Maddie Burnett scored 18 for Hope. Calvin (13-0) will travel to Hope (13-2) on Feb. 4.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps coach Jodie Burton won her 500th
career game as the Athenas defeated Caltech 51-36. She's the
winningest basketball coach in SCIAC history.
Led by its stifling defense, No. 18 Mary Washington took over first place in the Capital Athletic Conference by beating York (Pa.) 59-42. The Eagles held the Spartans to a season-low 30.4 percent shooting (14-for-46). Mary Washington (12-0, 5-0) will play at York (Pa.) (10-3, 4-1) on February 11.
No. 16 Mount Union pulled away from Ohio Northern to seize first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference via an 85-71 home victory. With two minutes to play, Erin Schmidt and Kori Wiedt hit back-to-back threes to put the Purple Raiders' lead out of reach. Mount Union (12-1, 5-1) travels to Ohio Northern (11-3, 5-2) on Feb. 11.
No. 9 UW-Stevens Point topped No. 24 UW-Eau Claire 64-60 to protect home court in the WIAC race. Sam Barber had 16 points for the Pointers before leaving the game with an injury. Ashley Averkamp and Myranda Tyler each had 14 points and five boards for UW-Stevens Point (12-2, 4-1). Ellen Plendl had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Blugolds (12-3, 5-1). No. 19 UW-River Falls lost at UW-Whitewater, 64-53, behind 20 points from Mary Merg.
No. 12 Williams rebounded from Friday night's loss to Tufts by pummeling Bates 71-40. No. 1 Amherst cruised past Connecticut College 93-42. New York U. shut down Brandeis in overtime to win its UAA opener 66-57. The Violets held the Judges without a field goal from 4:55 left in the second half through overtime.
Guilford won its ninth game in a row for the first time since 2002, scoring 13 of the last 15 points to defeat Virginia Wesleyan 75-66. It's the Marlins' first ODAC loss of the season. Alverno closed out the first half on a 17-0 run for its first lead of the game -- which it never relinquished -- and came away with a 49-38 Northern Athletics Conference victory at Concordia Chicago. Taylor Young scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the second half as St. Thomas ran its win streak to 10 with a 49-41 comeback win against Augsburg. Kean won its seventh in a row, defeating Montclair State 66-64.