From NYU Athletics
The New York University women's basketball team played its first University Athletic Association (UAA) game of the season and defeated Brandeis University 76-64 on Saturday, January 6, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan.
Kayla Patterson scored a game-high 23 points and had a career-high 19 rebounds (13 offensive) to lead NYU (8-4, 1-0). She also added a career-high four assists to go with two blocks and a steal.
"Kayla has a knack for rebounding. When a shot goes up, there's always a 50-50 chance that she'll get it," said Head Coach Lauren Hall-Gregory. "This season she's also improved so much on the offensive end."
The host Violets only trailed once...on the game's opening basket.
The Judges (8-3, 0-1) had come into the game allowing a UAA-low 51.5 points per game.
Kaitlyn Read scored 13 of her 21 points in the first quarter as NYU took a 27-17 lead after the first 10 minutes.
Brandeis pulled within five points on several occasions in the second quarter. However, with the score 36-31, the Violets went on an 8-0 run and took a 44-31 halftime lead.
NYU scored the first seven points of the third quarter and took its biggest lead of the game, 51-31, on Olivia Linebarger's 3-pointer at the 8:18 mark.
"Offensively, we were playing freely and all game we played good defense. That's what enabled us to extend our lead," Hall-Gregory explained.
However, Brandeis drew within seven points, 56-49, late in the period before Shaye McGoey's three-point play re-established a double-digit lead, 59-49, heading into the final quarter.
NYU increased its lead to 12 points several times in the fourth, but could not pull away as Brandeis moved to within five, 68-63, with 2:41 to play.
But, Read then scored six straight points on a layup and four free throws to thwart the Judges' comeback attempt.
"In my mind I'm just imagining myself making shots and imagining myself getting rebounds," Patterson said. "I just try and replay in my head what I'm good at."
On Saturday, she was good at a lot of things.
NOTABLES:
- Annie Barrett assisted in the victory with a game-high seven helpers.
- NYU won the battle of the boards, 58-31.
- The Violets were also productive at the free throw line, draining 20 of 23 (87.0%).
- Camila Casanueva led Brandeis with 17 points.
"It's no secret that in the UAA you have to take care of business on your home floor," Hall-Gregory concluded. "Anytime you get a win in the UAA it's such a wonderful thing. There are so many great players and teams."