WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University senior Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) came one point short of her career-high and two shy of a school record tonight as she poured in 32 points to lead the Judges to a 71-52 University Athletic Association victory over Case Western Reserve University in Red Auerbach Arena. With the win, Brandeis improves 10-6, 3-3 in the UAA, while Case falls to 11-6, 2-4 UAA.
Chapin connected on 11-of-18 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, and 7-of-10 from the free throw line for her 32 points. She went to the line with 2:31 left in the contest for a one-and-one and a shot at the record, but missed the front end. Chapin scored 18 points in the first half and 14 in the second.
Chapin also grabbed a game-high 10-rebounds for her third double-double of the season and the seventh of her career. She also tied for game-high honors with four steals and the team-high with three assists. With her 10 boards on the night, Chapin becomes the first player in school history to rank in the top 10 in points (1133, 7th), steals (229, 3rd), assists (225, 7th) and rebounds (488, T10th).
Two other Brandeis players reached double figures. Junior guard Diana Cincotta (Plymouth, Mass./W. Boylston) had 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc in the second half. Sophomore Shannon Hassan (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack) had a career-high 10 points in 26 minutes off the bench. Hassan reached her collegiate best with eight points in the first half and also had six boards to tie her career watermark. The Judges outscored Case, 19-5, from the line and connected on 10 3-pointers in 14 attempts (season-high 71%), including 7-of-9 in the second half (77%).
Case was led by sophomore forward Erin Hollinger (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon), who had 17 points, seven rebounds and a game-high four assists, but also committed 10 turnovers. Senior guard Ashleigh Tondo (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald) added 14 points, six boards and three helpers. Rookie backcourt mate Erica Iafelice (No. Canton, Ohio.No. Canton Hoover) led all players with four steals.
Brandeis struggled in the first half, shooting just 7-of-22 (32%) from the floor, with all Judges not named Chapin hitting on just 2-of-14 (14%). They stayed in the contest by outscoring the Spartans, 17-0, from the free-throw line. Trailing 27-18 with 4:05 before the break, the Judges closed on a 16-2 run, with 10 of those points coming from the line. Chapin had eight points and Hassan six in the run to give Brandeis a 34-29 lead at the intermission.
Case opened the second half strong, scoring the first six points, taking a 35-34 lead on a Hollinger jumper. Brandeis answered with six points in a row, but Case didn't go away, and Tondo hit one-of-two at the line with 11:41 remaining to put the Spartans ahead, 44-43. After a Brandeis miss and a Case turnover, the Judges went on the key run of the game.
Sophomore guard Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./Barnstable) gave the Judges a lead they wouldn't relinquish with a 3-pointer from NBA range from the right side and connected again from the left the next time down to spark the hosts to 12 unanswered points over a stretch of 4:13 and a 55-44 lead. Hollinger answered with a bucket, but eight straight points by Chapin pushed the lead to 17 and a Cincotta trifecta made it a 66-64 margin with just under five minutes to go and the Judges cruised from there.
Brandeis is next in action on Sunday afternoon when they take on Carnegie Mellon at 1:30 p.m., while Case is at NYU at 2 p.m. on Sunday.