From University of Chicago Athletics
The University of Chicago women's basketball team leaned on team defense and staked itself to an early lead that the Maroons would not relinquish in a 63-50 win at Brandeis University on Sunday.
The Maroons improved their overall record to 15-9, with a 7-6 mark in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The Judges fell to 12-12 overall and 5-8 in UAA action.
A balanced scoring effort featured five UChicago players with double-digit points. Freshman forward Olariche Obi, sophomore guard Elizabeth Nye and junior guard Stephanie Anderson tallied 11 points apiece. Freshman forward Rachel Westand senior guard Caitlin Moore recorded 10 points each.
Brandeis was limited to 29.1 percent shooting from the field – the fifth time this season that UChicago has held its opposition below 30 percent. The visitors led the whole way with no ties from the first points onward. Obi scored in the paint twice to open things up and sophomore forward Mary Grace Bilby stepped outside to can a three-pointer to make it 7-0. It took over seven minutes of game time until the Judges got onto the scoreboard. Obi tallied two more layups in close to close the first quarter and put her team ahead 14-4.
The home side then scored the first seven points of the second quarter to pull within 14-11. Moore's three-pointer broke the streak and Anderson's layup and foul made the score 20-13. Once again, Brandeis charged back to make the score 21-20. Anderson put up another three-point play in the final 1:25 and Moore's layup gave UChicago a 28-22 halftime edge.
The Maroons continued their knack for finishing through contact, totaling two more and-one opportunities in the third quarter as they patiently pulled away. The biggest lead of the game occurred at 46-32 when Obi made a layup, was fouled and made the free throw. UChicago maintained a comfortable lead of at least seven points for the rest of the game.
Brandeis held a 39-28 rebounding advantage, while turnovers were close to even at 14 for the Maroons and 16 by the Judges. UChicago shot 48.9 percent from the field for the game.
UChicago Team Stats & Leaders
Field-goal Percentage – 48.9 percent (23-47)
Three-point Percentage – 38.5 percent (5-13)
Free-throw Percentage – 63.2 percent (12-19)
Olariche Obi (Forward, Fr.) – 11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks
Elizabeth Nye (Guard, So.) – 11 points, 3 steals
Stephanie Anderson (Guard, Jr.) – 11 points
Caitlin Moore (Guard, Sr.) – 10 points
Rachel West (Forward, Fr.) – 10 points
Brandeis Team Stats & Leaders
Field-goal Percentage – 29.1 percent (16-55)
Three-point Percentage – 25.0 percent (2-8)
Free-throw Percentage – 66.7 percent (16-24)
Heather Cain – 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists
Maria Jackson – 9 points, 8 rebounds