CHICAGO, Ill. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team carried a two-point lead into the fourth quarter, but the 23rd-ranked University of Chicago opened the final period on a 10-1 run and the Maroons hung on to defeat the Judges, 72-63, in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest today in Chicago's Ratner Center. With the loss, Brandeis falls to 9-4 overall, 1-2 in the UAA, while Chicago wins their 10th in a row to improve to 12-2, 3-0 in the UAA.
Chicago owned a 23-14 lead after one period, but the Judges climbed back in by outscoring the Maroons 16-10 in the second, making the score 33-30 in favor of the home team at halftime. The Judges trailed by as many as eight points midway through the third, but they outscored Chicago 12-3 over the final 4:52 of the period to take a 51-49 lead into the final 10 minutes. Chicago's Elizabeth Nye opened the fourth with a 3-pointer to put the hosts back on top. Brandeis senior Noel Hodges (Southampton, N.Y./Southampton) hit a free throw to tie the game at 52-52 with 9:38 left in the game, but the Maroons' Taylor Lake scored the game's next seven points to give Chicago the lead for good. The Maroon defense limited Brandeis to just 4-of-17 from the field (23.5%) in the fourth to win the quarter, 23-12, and the game, 72-63.
Brandeis had a balanced offensive attack, with six different players notching between 7 and 12 points. Junior Sarah Jaromin (E. Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) led the Judges with 12 points, seven of which came in the fourth quarter. Classmate Joelle MarkAnthony (Wallingford, Conn. / Mark T. Sheehan) just missed her first career double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Rookie Camila Casanueva (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos) also scored nine points and led the Judges with four assists and three steals. Sophomore Hannah Nicholson (Sunderland, Vt./Burr and Burton Academy) led the Judges with a career-high 16 rebounds – the most by a Brandeis player since November, 17, 2015 – in addition to her eight points.
As a team, Brandeis had a fantastic performance from the free-throw line, hitting a season-best 89 percent (24-for-27) and outscoring the Maroons 24-14 from the charity stripe. The Judges also outrebounded Chicago, 52-36, including 17-8 on the offensive glass. Brandeis was unable to overcome tough shooting from 3-point range, as they hit just one of their 17 attempts from beyond the arc.
Chicago put four starters in double digits in scoring. Lake led all players with 16 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter as the Maroons put the game away. Obi Olariche posted a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, while Miranda Burt also had 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Mia Farrell netted 10 points to round out the double-figure scorers. Elizabeth Nye came off the bench to post seven points and team-highs with four assists and five steals. Chicago was able to convert 33% from downtown (10-for-30), outscoring Brandeis 30-3 from deep. The Maroons also won the turnover battle, 20-12, though points off those miscues were even at 15-all.
Brandeis will play their home UAA opener next Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. against seventh-ranked Rochester.