ST. LOUIS, Mo. (taken from a WashU press release) -- The Brandeis University women's basketball team, ranked No. 7 in the nation in Division III, dropped an 83-66 University Athletic Association decision to the No. 2-ranked Washington University Bears on the road.

With the loss, Brandeis falls to 12-2 overall and 3-2 in the UAA, while WashU improves to 14-2, 4-1 UAA.

Both teams had trouble finding the shooting touch early. The Bears, who remain in first place in the UAA with the win, shot 2-of-14 from the field to start the game, while the Judges took just seven shots in the first six-plus minutes. Trailing 7-4, WU scored six straight points to take the lead. Freshman Shanna-Lei Dacanay, (Honolulu, Hawaii) scored a lay-up in transition and added an 18-footer from the left wing to cap the run.

The Red and Green extended to a 19-10 lead with a little less than five minutes to play in the half. Junior Danielle Beehler (Leawood, Kans.) and senior Kelly Manning, (Nashville, Tenn.) scored the nine points in the 9-0 WU run. Brandeis, though, rallied with eight straight points to make it 19-18 before the Bears closed out the half with a 28-23 lead.

Manning led all scorers with 10 points and six rebounds at halftime. Dacanay contributed eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. Junior Alison Chase (Farmington, Conn.) and freshman Lauren Orlando (Peabody, Mass.) scored five points apiece to lead Brandeis.

The Judges drew within three points (33 30) when senior Amanda DeMartino (Toms River, N.J.) connected from beyond the arc, but WU built its lead back to eight points (40-32) when Manning scored on a runner in the lane. Brandeis got back to within four points when Chase scored a bucket and was fouled. However, she missed the ensuing free throw and Beehler's post play led to six consecutive points for the Bears, who took a 47-37 lead and forced the Judges into a timeout.

Beehler finished 12-of-18 from the field for a game- and career-high 29 points. She also added nine rebounds.
Freshman Jaimie McFarlin (Monroe, N.Y.) finished with career-bests of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Dacanay's 14 points and 10 assists were also career-highs. Senior Katie Benson (San Rafael, Calif. added 13 points for the Red and Green.

Chase led the Judges with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while senior Christine Clancy (Yarmouth, Maine) posted 17 points.