ATLANTA, Ga. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team erased an 11-point halftime deficit and nearly came back after trailing by eight with just over three minutes to play, but the Judges couldn't quite get over the hump in the final seconds as they fell to the host Emory University Eagles, 67-61. The Judges (10-9, 2-6 University Athletic Association) and Eagles (11-8, 3-5 UAA) end up splitting the season series.
Brandeis trailed 42-31 at halftime, but outscored the Eagles 21-8 over the first 8:41 of the second stanza. Sophomore Frankie Pinto (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) spurred the run with 10 points, hitting three 3-pointers and a foul shot in the run. Junior reserve guard Heather Cain (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester) put the Judges ahead with five-straight points, converting a traditional three-point play and a feed from Pinto, the latter giving Brandeis a 52-50 lead at the 11:19 mark, their first since the score was 12-11. The Eagles tied the game their next possession, with leading scorer Khadijah Sayyid hitting a jumper. Mikaila Schmitt hit a jumper at the 10:08 that gave the hosts the lead for good.
Brandeis had several chances to keep it close, but were unable to convert, and the Eagles went on to score six more points in a row, taking a 60-52 lead on a Fran Sweeney hoop with 6:02 on the clock. The Judges' Paris Hodges (Southampton, N.Y./Southampton) snapped the 8-0 run by EU with two free throws 30 seconds later, but the game was scoreless for the next two-and-a-half minutes before Michelle Bevan of the Eagles pushed the lead to 62-54 with 3:03 to go.
The Judges didn't give up, with Hodges answering on the next possession and Pinto hitting one-of-two from the line with just over two minutes to go. After the Eagles got one freebie back, Brandeis took advantage of the hosts' struggles from the line. An Olivia Shaw (Saco, Maine/Thornton Acad.) putback with 31 seconds got the Judges within two at 63-61 with 31 seconds to go. Brandeis called timeout and fouled immediately on the ensuing rebound, but surrendered an offensive rebound after the Eagles missed two foul shots. The home team converted their next two from the line, putting the nail in the coffin as they finished with the 67-61 edge.
Pinto led the Judges for the game, scoring 11 of her team-high 14 points in the second half. Heather Cain came off the bench to score 13 points, eight coming in the first stanza. Hodges and sophomore Maria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) led the team with seven rebounds, while senior Hannah Cain (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester) led all players with four assists. The Judges outrebounded Emory, 47-44.
The home team was led by Sayyid, who scored a game-high 16 points. Michelle Bevan posted a double-double for Emory, with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Sweeney added 11 points off the bench, while Ilene Tsao finished with 10 points and three assists. The Eagles outscored Brandeis, 22-13, in second-chance points, grabbing 22 offensive rebounds to offset 32 percent shooting from the field and 59 percent from the line. The Eagles also forced Brandeis into 23 turnovers while committing just 10 of their own.
Both teams returns to action on Sunday, when Brandeis travels to the University of Rochester and Emory hosts eighth-ranked NYU.