No. 16 WashU women's basketball splits weekend games

Bears fall to Carnegie Mellon but bounce back to defeat Case Western

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The No. 16 Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team split their weekend games, losing to Carnegie Mellon 72-59 but defeating Case Western Reserve 81-76. The loss to Carnegie Mellon hurt the Bears' NCAA Power Index rating and their chances to host games in the upcoming NCAA tournament, but they rebounded with a win over Case Western to enter a crucial stretch of the regular season on a high note.

Why it matters

With just three games left in the regular season, the Bears' performance in these final matchups will be crucial in determining their postseason positioning and chances to host NCAA tournament games. The loss to Carnegie Mellon was the Bears' fourth straight defeat against the Tartans, highlighting the need for the team to find a way to overcome this conference rival.

The details

In the loss to Carnegie Mellon, the Bears struggled offensively, with junior center Lexy Harris recording a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds as the only bright spot. The Tartans pulled away late in the fourth quarter, going on a 21-0 run to stun the Bears. Against Case Western, the Bears managed to hold off a late Spartans comeback, with Harris again leading the way with 27 points and 12 rebounds.

  • On Feb. 13, the Bears lost to Carnegie Mellon 72-59.
  • On Feb. 15, the Bears defeated Case Western 81-76.
  • On Feb. 20, the Bears will travel to face No. 1 New York University.
  • On Feb. 22, the Bears will face Brandeis University.
  • On Feb. 28, the Bears will close the regular season against the No. 19 University of Chicago.

The players

Lexy Harris

A junior center for the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team who recorded double-doubles in both games this weekend.

Catherine Goodwin

A junior guard for the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team who scored 12 points in the loss to Carnegie Mellon.

Sidney Rogers

A junior guard for the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team who made three 3-pointers in the win over Case Western.

Alyssa Hughes

A junior guard for the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team who made three 3-pointers in the win over Case Western.

Jordan Rich

A senior forward for the Washington University in St. Louis women's basketball team who led the Bears with 14 rebounds in the win over Case Western.

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What they’re saying

“Being in the UAA and having back-to-back games means that you can't linger on your losses. We didn't think about [the loss to Carnegie], and we didn't let it impact the way we played against Case Western.”

— Lexy Harris, junior center (studlife.com)

“The points come with rebounds. We're ensuring that we play super physically, having a lot of effort, and making sure that we're playing hard.”

— Lexy Harris, junior center (studlife.com)

“I really think we're the team that's going to beat NYU's streak. I think it's super exciting to have the chance to beat them on their home court.”

— Lexy Harris, junior center (studlife.com)

What’s next

The Bears will travel to face No. 1 New York University on Feb. 20, looking to end the Violets' record-breaking 84-game winning streak. A win over the top-ranked team would be a major boost to the Bears' NCAA tournament resume.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing loss to Carnegie Mellon, the Bears showed resilience in bouncing back to defeat Case Western and enter the final stretch of the regular season on a high note. With a chance to face the nation's top-ranked team and make a statement, the Bears have an opportunity to solidify their postseason positioning and prove they are a force to be reckoned with in Division III women's basketball.