WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team led virtually wire-to-wire, but it wasn't easy as the Judges defeated visiting Case Western Reserve University, 76-66, in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest in Auerbach Arena tonight.

Brandeis (13-2, 4-2 UAA), ranked No. 11 in the WBCA national poll and No. 12 by d3hoops.com, opened with an impressive first half, holding Case to just two field goals over a 10-minute span. Brandeis led by as many as 24 points in the first before taking a 43-25 lead into the locker room. Senior center Christine Clancy (Yarmouth, Maine) had 11 points in the first half to lead all scorers. The Judges owned a 24-10 edge on the glass in the first half and outshot the Spartans 57 percent (17-30) to 33 percent (9-27).

Case (9-8, 2-4 UAA) turned the tables in the second half. Trailing by 20 points, 59-39, with 9:21 left in the contest, the Spartans went on a 19-5 run over the next six minutes to close within six points at 64-58 on a in the run to get Case back in the contest, while sophomore forward Ashley Horton (Akron, Ohio) and junior guard Dana Dempsey (Brooklyn, Ohio) had five points each. Brandeis regained momentum from the free-throw line, hitting eight in a row in the final 3:21 to keep the visitors at bay.

Brandeis was led by their frontcourt of Clancy and junior forward Caitlin Malcolm (Windsor Locks, Conn.), who both had 17 points. Malcolm also had a game-high with 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. She also hit seven-of-nine from the line to move within two of becoming Brandeis's all-time leader in made free throws and led all players with five steals. Junior guard Alison Chase (Farmington, Conn.) added 14 points, while sophomore guard Jaime Capra (Old Bridge, N.J.) had nine points and a game-high four assists, one of four Judges with at least three helpers.

Case was paced by Hammell's game-high 23 points on nine-of-15 shooting, including three-of-seven from beyond the arc. Dempsey scored 15 points off the bench, while Horton finished with eight points and a team-high seven rebounds. The Spartans rallied in the second half by outshooting Brandeis, 56 percent (15-27) to 36 percent (9-25) and earning a 22-9 rebounding margin.