From University of Chicago Athletics
In the final home game of the season, the University of Chicago women's basketball team picked up steam as the game progressed and raced past Emory University 77-56 on Sunday.
The Maroons (16-6 overall, 9-2 UAA) are riding a five-game winning streak that has featured an average victory margin of 24.4 points. The Eagles fell to 13-9 and 4-7 in the University Athletic Association (UAA).
UChicago's three seniors – guard Stephanie Anderson, forward Michelle Dobbs and forward Britta Nordstrom – received recognition on the court with family members present prior to the start of the afternoon contest. Over the past four seasons, the Maroons have a combined record of 65-32 (.670 winning percentage) with one UAA Championship.
A tough start hampered the hosts for much of the first quarter. UChicago was slow on defensive rotations, got caught ball watching and gave up back-door cuts for layups. On the other end, Emory's zone defense kept the ball out of the paint and froze UChicago's usual crisp passing.
Facing a 15-7 deficit, the Maroons got back on track and closed the quarter with an 11-2 burst. Freshman guard Miranda Burt canned a pair of three-pointers, including one in transition, to put the home team ahead 18-17. UChicago would not trail for the remainder of the contest.
Nordstrom converted an and-one for three points early in the second quarter. Then sophomore forward Olariche Obi showed off her athleticism by blocking a shot, hauling in the defensive rebound, then sprinting down the floor to receive the ball on the other end for a layup.
Emory stayed close at 33-30. But UChicago turned on the jets in the last minute. Freshman guard Mia Farrell stepped outside the arc and knocked down a jumper, followed by Anderson making a layup and drawing a foul for the three-point play in the final seconds of the half. The Maroons led 39-30 at halftime, with Obi scoring eight points and freshman forward Taylor Lake accounting for seven.
The hosts started strong in the third quarter with eight points in-a-row and soon owned a 17-point advantage. UChicago beat the zone with four three-pointers in the period. Farrell scored a layup, followed by another three at 57-37. Junior guard Elizabeth Nye put up seven points in the quarter, and the Maroons carried a 61-49 lead into the fourth.
Emory's offense was shut down the rest of the way. The visitors were limited to seven points over the last 10 minutes. The Maroons continually snagged offensive rebounds and kept possessions rolling, killing the clock a minute at a time en route to the 21-point victory.
Four Maroons were in double figures for points. Farrell tallied 14 off the bench thanks to four treys. Obi submitted 12 points with seven rebounds and three steals. Nye put forth 12 points and dished out five assists. Burt stole the ball four times and collected 11 points. Nordstrom distributed well with a career-high nine assists to go with eight points and eight rebounds.
UChicago shot 46.8 percent from the field and an efficient 45.5 percent from three-point range (10-22). Rebounds went in favor of the Maroons 37-31, as did turnovers 28-19. UChicago capitalized all day on the miscues with 37 points off turnovers. The home side also posted 23 second-chance points compared to six by the Eagles.