From NYU Athletics
The New York University women's basketball team defeated host Carnegie Mellon Univeristy 66-51 in its final road game of the season on Sunday, February 12, at the Skibo Gymnasium in Pittsburgh, PA.
The victory was the third in the last four games for NYU (13-9, 3-8 UAA) and it is the Violets' first road University Athletic Association (UAA) victory of the season. Carnegie Mellon, which beat NYU earlier this season in Manhattan, dropped to 16-6 overall and 5-6 in Association action.
After an Amy Harioka three-pointer opened the scoring and put the Violets in front 3-0, NYU fell behind 9-5. The Violets stormed back, however, as another three-pointer from Harioka put them in front 12-11 after 10 minutes of play.
Carnegie Mellon retook the lead in the second quarter, but it was short-lived as NYU extended its lead to eight, 33-25, at halftime. The Violets closed the second quarter strong, using another three-pointer from Hairoka and a triple from Simone Jacques to highlight a 16-4 run over the final 5:53 of the half.
The Tartans cut the NYU lead to three with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter, but Violet freshman Lauren Brown put on an impressive offensive display to help the Violets rebuild their lead. Brown scored three field goals in less than three minutes and Lindsey Oldshue mixed in a three-pointer to help the visitors increase their lead to 10. NYU ended the third quarter with back-to-back baskets from Simone Jacques and Cassidy Fontana and led 48-34 with one quarter to go.
"We talk a lot about basketball being a game of momentum," said Head Coach Lauren Hall-Gregory. "Today we did a good job of weathering their runs and answering with big runs of our own. We got contributions from everyone today."
CMU couldn't cut the margin to less than seven in the fourth quarter and a late 7-0 run from NYU put the Violets ahead 66-49 with 51 seconds to go.
Harioka, who drained two more three-pointers in the second half, led the Violets with 15 points. Brown chipped in with 14 points and six boards.
NOTABLES:
- Kayla Patterson led NYU with eight rebounds and chipped in with six points, as well. The junior helped NYU out-rebound the Tartans by seven.
"Our girls bought into the defensive game plan and executed," added Hall-Gregory. "That is a great offensive team and they have some weapons that we were able to shut down. We were also fantastic on the defensive boards."
- Shaye McGoey finished with eight points and six assists in 33 minutes of action.
- NYU shot 7-of-14 (50.0 %) from long-range.