WALTHAM, Mass. - Three Brandeis University women's basketball starters scored in double figures today, and the Judges went on a 19-4 run midway through the first half to defeat the visiting Case Western Reserve University Spartans, 76-56, on Senior Day in Red Auerbach Arena. With the win, the Judges improve to 17-6, 7-6 in the University Athletic Association, while Case falls to 10-14, 3-10 UAA.
Brandeis was paced by junior guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y./Honoeye Falls-Lima), who registered her third double-double of the season and her career with 17 points and 10 rebounds, both game-highs. Chapin also led all players with six assists and four steals. She connected on 7-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Rookie guard Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./Barnstable) had a career-hugh 15 points, including 12 in the first half. Kendrew connected on 4-of-8 overall, 4-of-6 from downtown with one free throw, and matched her career-high with four assists. Senior forward Lauren Orlando (Peabody, Mass./ Peabody) led the way in the frontcourt with 11 points and eight rebounds in her final regularly-scheduled home game. Classmates Cassidy Dadaos (Healdsburg, Calif./Healdsburg) and Amanda Wells (Loudon, N.H./Merrimack Valley) both tossed in six points and grabbed five and six rebounds, respectively. Dadaos also added four assists, as the Judges had 22 helpers on 27 baskets. They also enjoyed a 43-31 rebounding advantage, including 14-9 on the offensive glass.
Case was guided by 12 points each from sophomore guard Caitlin Henry (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) and rookie forward Erin Hollinger (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon), but the two needed 9-of-26 shooting to get their 24 points. Rookie forward Chelsea Peck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) led the Spartans with six rebounds off the bench to go with eight points, while senior guard Anna Taylor (Westerville, Ohio) had four assists and two blocks to lead her team.
Brandeis raced out to an 8-2 lead 4:45 into the contest, but the Spartans answered with a 9-2 streak. Rookie forward Sarah Milligan (Canton, Ohio) connected from downtown with 11:59 on the clock to give the visitors an 11-10 lead. At that point, Brandeis went on the game's decisive run, holding the Spartans to just one field goal over the next nine minutes, scoring 19 of the next 22 points to take a 29-14 lead at the 5:12 mark. Kendrew had eight of her half-high 12 points in that stretch for the Judges. The lead was 41-23 at the half and ballooned to as many as 33 at 70-37 with 5:38 remaining before the Spartans closed on a 19-6 run to close out the contest.
Brandeis wraps up their regular season next weekend with a big UAA clash at No. 22 New York University next Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Big Apple.