CHICAGO – The first conference game of 2022 proved to be memorable affair, as the University of Chicago women's basketball team battled Washington University – St. Louis in a Saturday afternoon shootout inside the Ratner Athletics Center. Regulation time was not enough as the two teams stretched the game into double overtime. WashU came away as the victors at the final horn, topping UChicago 102-97.

The Maroons fell to 7-4 on the season and 0-1 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The Bears improved to 7-5 (1-0 UAA).  

The 199 combined points were the most ever for a women's game at the Ratner Center, which opened in 2003. The previous record of 186 points was achieved twice in 2018 against WashU and Carthage College.

In the first quarter, UChicago claimed its largest lead of the day at 13-7 following a three-point splash from junior Grace Hynes. The game was tied at 15-15 after one quarter. Senior Klaire Steffens scored seven points in the second quarter, including a layup that made it 23-18 after junior Peyton Van Soest canned a three. However, the Bears battled back down the stretch and knocked down a deep jumper at the first-half buzzer to draw ahead 33-32.

The momentum continued for WashU in the third quarter. The visitors noticeably slowed down UChicago's half-court ball movement and forced many possessions to trickle down to the final seconds of the shot clock. On the other end, the Bears opened the quarter on a 12-0 run to bound ahead 45-32. Steffens got UChicago off the schneid with a layup at the 5:35 mark – she scored nine points in the period.

Sophomore Marissa Powe's jumper at the quarter buzzer drew the Maroons back to within seven at 58-51. It was a portent of things to come. UChicago came out with purpose in the fourth quarter, making more decisive and effective decisions offensively. The squad drew fouls on forays into the lane and totaled 15 free throw attempts in the quarter versus only one attempt for the visitors.

After trailing at 67-58, the Maroons embarked on a 12-0 run to recapture the lead at 70-67. Hynes was the catalyst for the streak, scoring seven points in-a-row in a variety of fashions. The UChicago lead stood at 73-71 with 24 seconds to go. But WashU came up with the tying basket on the next possession to force overtime.

The first overtime was a struggle offensively for both teams as they shot a combined 3-for-15 on field goals. It was WashU who went up 80-74 with 90 seconds left, putting UChicago in a precarious position. However, the Maroons were up to the challenge. They made 3 of 4 free throws and the Bears missed a pair of jumpers. With under 10 seconds left, Hynes drove to the hoop and hurled a pass to the right corner for Van Soest. The junior guard launched a three-pointer that caromed off both sides of the rim and banked in to dramatically tie the score 80-80.  

A WashU turnover set up another game-winning chance for the Maroons. But the driving jumper drew iron at the horn, and a second overtime was in store.

The second overtime saw UChicago fall victim to the three-pointer. The Bears sunk all three of their shots from distance, including two in-a-row that gave them a 93-86 lead. UChicago hung around until the end and trimmed the deficit to three. But WashU was clutch at the free throw line and secured the win.

 Steffens put together a career-best scoring performance for the Maroons. The center racked up 28 points while also grabbing 13 rebounds and three steals. It marked her fifth double-double of the season.

Hynes came off the bench to tally 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. She was a perfect 9-for-9 on free throws. Van Soest put up 14 points. Sophomore Ellie Gross was impactful with 13 points, six assists and four rebounds.

UChicago converted 39.5 percent of its field goals, 30 percent of its three-pointers (9-30) and 70.6 percent of its free throws (24-34). WashU made 46.1 percent from the field, 75 percent from three-point range (9-12) and 82.1 percent from the charity stripe (23-28).

The Bears dominated the rebounding category by a final count of 56-41. However, WashU committed 22 turnovers that the Maroons turned into 24 points.

NEXT GAME:

• Friday, Jan. 14 @ 7:30 PM (ET) – UChicago at University of Rochester