From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics
Sophomore Makayla Filiere (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) scored a career-best 24 points as the Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team defeated Denison University, 76-57, in the 33rd Annual Jim Meagle Turkey Shoot sponsored by BSN Sports at Marietta College on Sunday, November 26. The win marked the fifth of the season for the Tartans who have an unblemished mark.
Once again, Filiere had the hot hand for the Tartans as she connected on 5-of-7 from long range, including a 5-of-5 performance in the first half, on the way to her third straight 20-plus point effort this season. Joining Filiere in double digits was sophomore Laurel Pereira (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) with 16 and sophomore Katharine Higgins (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) with 13. Higgins also grabbed 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the year. Filiere and Higgins were named to the all-tournament team.
The Tartans dished out 15 assists on 27 made baskets with junior Jenn Mayberger (Chesterfield, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) leading with four. The Tartans also picked up 12 steals for their fifth outing with double-digit takeaways.
A slow start over the first six minutes of the game saw the Tartans lead 8-5 before the Tartans used a 14-7 run to finish the quarter with a 22-12 lead. Filiere scored eight of those 14 points, connecting on two three-pointers.
The Big Red hit the first two buckets of the second quarter to pull within five but the Tartans answered with an 11-3 run to lead 33-20 after a layup by freshman Victoria Avery (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd) with 3:50 to go before the break. The largest lead of the half was 15 points when Filiere hit her fifth trey with 17 seconds remaining in the second period.
The Tartans shot 51.7% from the field in the first half while the Big Red shot just 36.7%. The Tartans also outrebounded the Big Red, 19-13, for the half.
While Filiere had 19 first-half points, Pereira scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half. Freshman Kylie Huffman (California, Pa./Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic) scored the first basket of the third quarter before Pereira scored on back-to-back layups to give the Tartans a 47-30 lead. Later in the period, Higgins scored in the lane to give the Tartans their largest lead of the game, 51-33, with 4:31 remaining on the clock before the final break.
The Tartans would extend that lead to 23 points with 2:48 to go on two free throws by Pereira.
The Tartans hit seven three-pointers for the third time this season but did so with a 53.8% efficiency for their best percentage to date. The 76 points also ties a season-high.
Final stats showed the Tartans shot 45.0% from the floor to 37.5% from the Big Red with the Tartans winning the rebounding battle, 44-36.