Maroons Cap Perfect UAA Campaign
ST. LOUIS -- Four Maroons scored in double figures as the eighth-ranked University of Chicago women's basketball team defeated ninth-ranked Washington (Mo.) University 61-51 in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon.
With its 18th consecutive victory, Chicago (22-3 overall, 14-0 UAA) became the fifth team in UAA history and the first since 2002 to post an undefeated record in conference play.
Chicago built a 24-18 halftime lead and held a double-digit lead for most of the game's final eight minutes.
Morgan Herrick led the Maroons with 17 points, while Taylor Simpson notched her 11th double-double of the year with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Bryanne Halfhill and Meghan Herrick finished with 16 and 11 points, respectively, and both set school season records in the process. Halfhill (pictured) hit three 3-point field goals to raise her season total to 55. Herrick sunk six free throws to bring her total to 130.
Alex Hoover paced Washington (20-5, 11-3) with 15 points. Kristin Anda chipped in 12.
Chicago's win snapped a 23-game series losing streak in St. Louis.
As the UAA regular season champion, Chicago has earned an automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Championship. The NCAA will announce the tournament bracket Monday at 2 p.m. (CT) via NCAA.com.
