Women’s hoops wins two home UAA games
The No. 3 women’s basketball team (16-2, 6-1 UAA) picked up a pair of home league wins Jan. 27 and 29 at the Field House.
WUSTL defeated No. 23 University of Rochester, 73-49, Jan. 27. The Bears put together an 18-2 run to take a 23-6 lead with eight minutes left in the opening half to take control of the game.
Senior Kelly Manning sparked the run with a 3-pointer from the left wing and a pull up at the left elbow. After junior Sarah Schell scored on her own pull-up jumper, senior Danielle Beehler followed with six straight points. Freshman Jaimie McFarlin added a jump hook in the lane, and Beehler scored two more baskets to help seal the run. During the spree, WUSTL limited UR to 1-of-16 shooting from the field.
Beehler finished with her seventh double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Two days later, Washington U. rolled past Carnegie Mellon University, 74-36. Beehler finished with 20 points, while Manning added 11 points and seven rebounds. Senior Katie Benson contributed 11 points.
Men split at home, stay tied for UAA lead
The men’s basketball team (13-5 overall, 5-2 UAA) posted a 1-1 record and remains in a three-way tie for first place in the UAA.
The Bears defeated the University of Rochester, 67-62, on Jan. 27 to begin the week. Senior Scott Stone finished with 21 points, five assists and five rebounds, while sophomore Troy Ruths contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bears fell short to Carnegie Mellon University, 86-80, two days later at the Field House. The Bears rallied to cut a 14-point deficit to two before succumbing. Stone’s two free throws drew WUSTL within two points (78-76), but A.J. Straub, who tallied a team-high 21 points on seven treys, answered with a 3-pointer from the right corner to seal the victory.
Ruths finished with a career-high 27 points, going 10 of 19 from the field; he also grabbed 11 rebounds. Junior Neal Griffin added a career-best 13 points, while freshman Tyler Nading contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.
Women runners claim Illinois Early Bird title
The indoor track and field teams competed at the Illinois College Early Bird Meet on Jan. 28 in Jacksonville, Ill. The Bears women won with 171 points, well ahead of second-place Greenville College (113 points). The men’s squad placed third out of eight teams with 90.5 points.
Junior Delaina Martin highlighted the day, breaking the school record in the weight throw. Martin registered a throw of 16.66 meters (54-8), which is .07 meters better than the old mark. Her throw also is an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.
Senior Laura Ehret won the 800, clocking a time of 2:25.24. Additionally, sophomores Danielle Wadlington (55-meter hurdles, 9.02 finals, 8.90 prelims), Morgen Leonard-Fleckman (pole vault, 3.20m, 10-6), and freshman Erika Wade (triple jump, 10.18m, 33-4 3/4) took home individual titles.
The women’s and men’s 4×400-meter relay squads swept the competition. The women’s team ran a time of 4:05.48, while the men finished in 3:28.43.
Senior David Skiba turned in a strong performance in the 55 hurdles prelims. He won the preliminary round in 7.90. Senior Drew Martin notched a second-place result in the shot put (13.68m, 44-10 3/4). Greenville took home the men’s team title with 134.5 points.
Football players namedto All-America squads
Senior wide receiver Brad Duesing and senior defensive back Joe Rizzo were named to the 2005 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-America Team, as announced by the Web site.
Duesing, the 2005 UAA Offensive Player of the Year, had a school-record 75 catches for 1,136 yards and 10 touchdowns. He eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth straight season, becoming the second player in NCAA history (Division I, II or III) to record four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Duesing, who ranks first in school history in pass receptions and receiving yards, finished his career ranked third in Division III history in receptions (287) and sixth in receiving yards (4,249). A second-team all-South Region selection by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and a third-team all-South honoree by D3football.com, Duesing ranked 11th in Division III in receiving yards per game (113.6) and 12th in receptions per game (7.5).
Rizzo, a second-team Associated Press Little All-America and honorable-mention all-America selection by D3football.com, had a team-high six interceptions and 37 tackles in 2005.
A three-time, first-team all-UAA selection, Rizzo finished his career with 15 picks, which ranks fifth on the all-time WUSTL list. Rizzo ranked fourth in Division III in passes defended and 20th in interceptions in 2005. He was also a first-team all-South Region selection by D3football.com and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette in 2005.