From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics
The 21st-ranked Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team was tested Friday night when the University of Chicago visited Skibo Gymnasium and recorded an 83-80 victory after four ties and six lead changes. The Tartans improved to 13-0 and 2-0 in the University Athletic Association while the Maroons dropped to 8-5 and 0-2.
Senior Lindsay Poss (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) hit a three-pointer at 5:22 of the first period to give the Tartans a 10-5 lead before Chicago rattled off 12 straight to take a 17-10 lead not quite two minutes later. The Tartans pulled back within one at 17-16 following two free throws by senior Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) but Chicago held a 22-16 lead at the end of the first period.
The Maroons went on to lead by as many as 11 points in the second period when Madison Dunbar made the team's sixth three-pointer with 4:15 to go. A 13-4 run for the Tartans to close the final 4:15 of the period tied the game at the half, 38-38.
The game of runs continued in the third period as the Tartans came out of the break hot and used a 14-4 blitz to take a 10-point lead, 52-42. The Maroons answered it with their own run and took a 62-60 advantage into the last 10 minutes of play.
A 9-2 run for the Tartans to open the fourth period gave the home team a 69-64 lead before Chicago nailed their next four shots, including three from behind the arc to retake the lead at 75-69 with 5:15 to play.
A three-pointer by Hudepohl following the Tartans' 28th defensive rebound tied the game at 77-77. Freshman Jenn Mayberger (Chesterfield, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) then connected on a driving layup and Hudepohl scored the team's 17th second-chance point off an assist by junior Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean) to go ahead four with a minute to play.
Sophomore Anna Novak (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights) drained two free throws with 16 seconds left to put the Tartans ahead six.
Stephanie Anderson connected on a three-pointer for the Maroons with a second to go to pull them within three and the Maroons were awarded a chance to tie the game after a quick turnover on the ensuing inbounds play by the Tartans; however, the long range attempt by Katie Anderson from the corner sailed over the basket.
Rebounding and free throw shooting were keys for the Tartans as they out-rebounded the Maroons 47-35 and made 21-of-26 from the charity stripe. The Tartans also shot 49.2% from the field and survived a 10-of-25 three-point performance by the Maroons.
Hudepohl led all scorers with 25 points while Murphy was held to a season-low 15 points. Both grabbed double-digit rebounds with 12 and 14, respectively. Otto finished with 11 points, Novak tied a season-high with 10 points and Mayberger scored a career-best nine in the win. Mayberger also assisted on six baskets. Sophomore Njaire McKoy (Englewood Cliffs, N.J./Bergen County Tech./Peddie School) was a boost off the bench in the first half scoring seven of her eight points as Poss went down with an injury.