From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Junior Jessica McCoy hit a pair of free throws with 8.6 seconds remaining to give the Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team its biggest victory of the season, a 67-65 win over seventh-ranked New York University at Adelbert Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
McCoy, who finished the game with 16 points, was fouled by NYU's Drew Cabral on a drive towards the basket with timing running down in the game. The guard was able to knock down both free throws shots, and a last-chance shot at the final buzzer by Megan Dawe fell just short, giving the Spartans their first win of the season over a nationally-ranked team.
The win raised the Spartans' overall record to 7-13 with a 2-7 mark in University Athletic Association play. It also gave CWRU a split of the season series with the Violets, who fell to 17-3 overall, with a 6-3 UAA mark.
McCoy added seven rebounds and three assists for the day, while senior forward Laura Mummeyscored a team-best 17 points, including a nine-for-12 performance from the free throw line, seven rebounds and three assists. Both sophomore Kara Hageman (11 points, 11 rebounds) and freshman Hillary Hellmann (15 points, 10 rebounds), finished the game with double-doubles.
Kaitlyn Read led all NYU players with 18 points, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for her career during the loss on a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter.
NYU carried a 17-12 lead into the second period, and a quick three-pointer by Amy Harioka quickly pushed their advantage to their largest of the half, 20-12 with 9:30 remaining in the period. However, the Spartans went on an 18-1 run, holding the Violets without a field goal during the next four minutes and 15 seconds. CWRU took a game-high nine-point lead at the 5:43 mark, 30-21, after Hellmann connected on her third three of the Spartans' run. The Violets closed the gap to a point, 35-34, with 1:21 left in the half, but layups by Hageman and Mummey gave the Spartans a five-point advantage heading into the break.
The Spartans shot 46.7% from the field in the first half, while connecting on eight three pointers on 18 attempts. Hellmann led CWRU with 10 first half points, with Hageman and McCoy each adding eight.
The Violets regained the lead, 40-39, at the 6:27 mark in the third, and eventually take an eight-point lead, following a layup and one by Read that made the score 52-44 with 2:47 remaining in the period. However, the Spartans closed the frame on an 11-2 run, including five points from Hellmann and four from Mummey during the spur, to take a 55-54 lead into the final quarter.
Down three at the 6:02 mark in the fourth, a layup by Hageman, followed by a jumper from McCoy with 4:35 remaining gave the Spartans the lead back. CWRU led by three, 65-62, after a Mummey layup with 3:33 to play, but a three-pointer by NYU's Liv Linebarger knotted the contest at 65-65 with 1:16 on the clock. After a missed three-pointer by McCoy, senior Emily Young picked up a steal to regain possession for the Spartans with 34 seconds left, eventually leading to the foul on McCoy and the resulting game-winning free throws.
Points off turnovers were a key factor in the game for the Spartans, who despite allowing a slight edge to the Violets in total turnovers (12-11), were able to outscore NYU 17-10 off mistakes, leading to the upset win. CWRU also connected on 75.0% of their free throws during the game, including 83.3% (15-for-18) during the second half of play.