Three-time defending national champion Washington University ended the women’s basketball season, 87-67, in the NCAA Div. III second-round regional game in St. Louis Saturday.

This was the second year in a row Washington put the halt on the ‘Golds postseason play. Eau Claire saw its season end last year on the very same court in what was its only loss of the season.

The Blugolds started off slow, missing 11 of their first 12 shots and committing five turnovers in the first nine minutes and four seconds of the contest as they fell behind early, 25-3. Washington settled for a 47-25 lead at intermission.

“We couldn’t get it going from the beginning,” senior Megan Murphy said. “We dug ourselves in such a hole the first five minutes of the game.”

The Bears opened up a 26-point lead to start the second half and increase their lead, 58-32.

The Blugolds made a run to cut down the lead to 15 at 61-46 with 12:16 left. The ‘Golds could not get any closer and the Bears pushed their lead back to 26 at 86-60 with 2:49 to go.

“I can’t take anything away from them (Washington),” head coach Tonja Englund said. “They came out focused and ready to play.”

The win improved Washington’s record to 24-2 as they advance to a four-team sectional tournament next weekend. The Blugolds finished 23-6 on their season.

Eau Claire shot 29 percent from the field, compared to 51 percent for Washington, which also commanded the boards by a 46-38 margin.

The loss marked the end of the road for four Blugold senior starters who produced a 51-7 record during the last two years, going 74-12 the last three seasons and 96-17 the last four years.

Senior Vanessa Schley led the Blugolds with 20 points, eight rebounds and fell just short of the 1,000-point mark for her three-year Blugold career after transferring from UW-River Falls.

Senior Jessie Brantner made three three-pointers to break the Blugold single season three-point record. She broke the record with 67 three-pointers. Brantner finished the game with 11 points.

Murphy, at 5-feet, 9-inches, scored five points before fouling out of her last game in a Blugold uniform.

Washington University was led by its 5-foot, 10-inch All-American Tasha Rodgers who scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

“I am extremely proud of what we accomplished this season,” Englund said. “We lose five great seniors off this team. We’re happy that we could go out as regular season conference champions and conference tournament champions.”