WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team dropped a 73-45 decision to visiting 21st-ranked University of Chicago today in a University Athletic Association contest. With the loss, the Judges fall to 13-11 on the season, 3-10 in the UAA. The win gives the Maroons at least a share of the UAA title at 19-5, 10-3, and with tiebreakers, the Maroons earn the UAA's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.
The Judges trailed 19-8 after one period and were never able to get on track. UC's Mia Farrell outscored Brandeis in the opening stanza with nine points, as the Judges hit just two of their first 16 shots from the field. Chicago outscored Brandeis in each of the next two quarters, 25-12 and 18-11, though the Judges had the upper hand in the fourth, 14-11.
Junior guard Camila Casanueva (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos) led the Judges with 11 points, adding five rebounds. Senior Julia St. Amand (Jupiter, Fla./The Benjamin School) starred in the fourth quarter, playing all 10 minutes and scoring a career-high nine points, hitting 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Junior Katherine Puda (Whitinsville, Mass. / Worcester Acad.) led the team with seven rebounds, one shy of a career best.
Farrell finished with 15 points to lead Chicago, while Miranda Burt added 11 and Klaire Steffens had 10 and a game-high nine rebounds. Taylor Lake had a game-high five assists. Chicago finished with 15 steals on 29 Brandeis turnovers. The Maroons shot 38.5% from the field and 31% from 3-point range while holding Brandeis to 25% and 29%, respectively.
The Judges will close out their regular season next weekend at home against NYU with a 1 p.m. Senior Day contest.