PITTSBURGH, Pa. (taken from a CMU press release) -- Strong
rebounding and stifling defense by the visiting Brandeis University
women's basketball team lifted the Judges past host Carnegie Mellon
Friday night at Skibo Gymnasium, 74-56. With the win, Brandeis
bounces back from their first loss in eight games and moves them to
10-3 overall and 1-1 in the University Athletic Association. The
Tartans fall to 7-6 overall and 0-2 in the UAA.
Brandeis jumped out to an early 12-4 lead after a jumper by senior
guard Kiersten Holgash (Easton, Pa.), but Carnegie Mellon narrowed
the Judges advantage to 14-12 thanks in part to back-to-back
three-pointers from junior guard Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
and sophomore guard Paige Williamson (Washington, Pa.). Brandeis
led 26-19 with 3:43 remaining when sophomore guard Carmela Breslin
(McKees Rocks, Pa.), a Pittsburgh-area native, took over, scoring
the last eleven points of the half for the Judges and tying her
career-high in the process. Carnegie Mellon kept the margin roughly
the same and a lay-up by junior forward Ashley Rothwell
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) off a pass from junior forward Rachelle Roll
(Ostrander, Ohio) put the score at 37-29 in favor of Brandeis
heading into halftime.
Brandeis gradually extended their lead over the course of the
second half, leading by as much as 26 before winning by 18.
Brandeis received a career-high 13 points from Breslin and 12 from
senior guard Jaime Capra (Old Bridge, N.J.) in the win. The Judges
pulled down 46 rebounds compared to only 33 by the Tartans and
Brandeis shot 43.3% on the night compared to Carnegie Mellon's
36.7%. Tartan senior forward Leah Feola (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led
Carnegie Mellon with 15 points and nine rebounds while Aleski
collected a career-high seven steals and Roll had a career-high
three blocks. Aleski finished with 13 points and Williamson
contributed a season-high 12 points.
Brandeis travels to Rochester, N.Y., for a 2 p.m. tip-off on Sunday
against the No. 21-ranked University of Rochester Yellowjackets. UR
knocked off third-ranked NYU tonight, 62-55.