CHICAGO, Ill.- The Brandeis Women's basketball team fell to #2 Chicago 76-48 in University Athletic Association action. The Judges were led by senior guard Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./ Barnstable) who finished with 14 points but they could not keep up with the Maroons. Chicago was led by senior guard Meghan Herrick (Cedarburg, Wis./ Cedarburg) who finished with 16 points and continued the Maroons' undefeated season as they improved to 16-0 (5-0 UAA). Brandeis fell to 7-9 and remain winless in UAA play at 0-5.
Despite shooting 50% for the first half the Judges trailed 39-25. There were four lead changes and two ties in the first half with Brandeis tying the game at 17 on a trifecta from guard Diana Cincotta (W. Boylston, Mass./ W. Boylston) with 12:50 to play in the half. Still, the Maroons followed that tie with a 22-8 run to close out the half and take control of the game. The Judges were a perfect 3-3 from three-point range for the half but they also were 0-5 from the free throw line and had 10 turnovers to Chicago's three.
The Judges came out sluggish in the second half as the Maroons went on a 19-2 run over the first nine minutes of the half to take an insurmountable 58-27 lead. Brandeis outscored Chicago 21-16 the rest of the way behind 10 second half points from Kendrew. The Judges shot a much improved 11-15 from the line in the half but were 0-8 from three-point range and shot just 21% overall from the field.
Cincotta led the Judges with five rebounds while junior forward Samantha Anderson (Johnsonville, N.Y./ Hoosic Valley) and sophomore forward Janelle Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass./ Peabody Veterans) were tied for the team lead with two assists. Junior center Erika Higginbottom (Millbury, Mass./ Worcester Acad.) led the team with two blocks and Cincotta was the second Brandeis player in double figures with 10 points. The Judges come home to face Case Western Reserve on January 27th as they continue UAA play. Chicago stays at home as well to face Emory on January 27th as they continue their UAA schedule.