WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team trailed the University of Rochester by nine points with just under seven minutes left in the game, but the Judges closed on an 18-5 run to survive with a 60-56 University Athletic Association (UAA) victory in Auerbach Arena today.

Brandeis (9-0, 2-0 UAA) got points from seven different players in the decisive run. Meanwhile, Rochester (8-3, 2-1 UAA) shot just one-for-seven and committed four turnovers in the final 6:54. After the Yellowjackets took their first lead of the second half with just under four minutes in, Brandeis trailed until junior Alison Chase (Farmington, Conn.) had a steal and a lay-up with 1:50 on the clock that gave the Judges a 55-54 lead. After UR committed a turnover on their next possession, Brandeis let the shot clock run down to four seconds before senior center Christine Clancy (Yarmouth, Maine) lobbed a pass into junior forward Caitlin Malcolm (Windsor Locks, Conn.) for a lay-up that gave Brandeis a three-point lead, 57-54.

UR answered with a lay-in by sophomore Jessica Waddell (Williamstown, N.J.) after junior guard Emily Bango (Delmar, N.Y.) penetrated and drew the defense. Brandeis senior Amanda DeMartino (Toms River, N.J.) calmly sank two free throws to give the Judges another three-point cushion, while sophomore guard Jaime Capra (Old Bridge, N.J.) grabbed a rebound and sank one-of-two with six seconds left to give the hosts the final 60-56 margin of victory.

Brandeis was led by Malcolm, who scored a game- and season-high 22 points. She hit eight-of-12 from the floor with a 3-pointer, and five-of-eight free throws. She also paced the Judges with five rebounds. Clancy finished with eight points, while Chase and DeMartino each had seven. DeMartino led all players with five assists, the day after becoming the University's all-time leader in that category. The Judges forced 24 turnovers and shot 43 percent from the floor (19-44) and 72 percent from the line (18-25) to overcome a 43-25 rebounding deficit.

Rochester had one player score in double figures, junior guard Danielle Muller (Melville, N.Y.), who scored 12 points on four-of-eight from the floor. Senior Jessie Graham (Seattle, Wash.) added nine points, as did rookie Alex Porter (Rockville, Md.). Porter led all players with 11 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. The Yellowjackets pulled down 25 offensive caroms to Brandeis's nine.

Brandeis is next in action at home on Wednesday in a non-conference game against MIT at 7 p.m., while UR opens the JP Morghan-Chase Tournament, also on Wednesday.

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