Tartans Can't Hold Fourth-Quarter Lead, Fall to WashU, 73-67

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team hosted Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, January 19. After 11 lead changes and seven ties, the Bears prevailed 73-67 to move to 8-6 and 1-2 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with the Tartans now 7-7 and 0-3.

Senior Makayla Filiere (Chandler, Ariz. / Hamilton) led four Tartans in double figures with 16 points. Sophomore Leah Weslock (Howell, Mich. / Howell) recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore Caitlyn Clendenin (Bethesda, Md. / Bethesda Chevy Chase) scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists for the Tartans. Also scoring in double figures was senior Katie Higgins (Montclair, N.J. / Montclair) with 13 points.

The Tartans held a 55-50 lead with 6:12 to go in the final period before a 17-2 run gave the Bears a 67-57 lead with 2:35 left in the game. The Bears first scored eight straight with back-to-back three-pointers by Molly Gannon to take the lead at 58-55 and then used scored nine straight after two free throws by the Tartans to lead by 10.

As the Tartans tried to chip away at the deficit in final minutes, the Bears' Sammi Matoush connected on all six of her free throw attempts and the Tartans could only get as close as four points before the Bears closed the game out.

The Tartans led 22-12 after the first period thanks to 69.2% shooting from the field and five WashU turnovers that led to 10 points for the Tartans.

The Bears erased the first quarter deficit over the course of the second period to lead 35-34 at halftime following a jump shot by Kristina Schmelter in the closing seconds.

Seven lead changes in the third period ended with a three-point Tartan advantage after a layup and free throw by Higgins made it 49-46 Tartans.

The Bears were led by five players in double figures including Matoush and freshman Maya Arnott with 16 apiece. Gannon, who hit the two three-pointers in the final frame finished with 11 points while Schmelter had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Tartans will next travel to Emory University for a 6:00 p.m. contest in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, January 19.