From University of Chicago Athletics

With a postseason bid ripe for the taking, the University of Chicago women's basketball team led wire-to-wire on Sunday afternoon to soundly defeat Brandeis University 73-45 on the road.

The No. 21-ranked Maroons (19-5 overall, 10-3 UAA) secured the University Athletic Association's (UAA) automatic berth to the NCAA tournament in the process. UChicago possesses a one-game lead in the conference standings with one game remaining while coming out ahead on the primary tiebreaker scenarios. The Judges dropped to 13-11 overall (3-10 UAA).

Once the Maroons got rolling, the momentum carried them the rest of the way. UChicago never trailed in the contest and embarked on a 22-6 run that put the game firmly in the visitors' control. Senior guard Mia Farrell outscored Brandeis on her own in the first quarter as she tallied nine points compared to eight for the home team.

By halftime, the Maroons had doubled up on the hosts by a 44-20 margin. The lead ballooned from there, expanding all the way up to 36 points midway through the fourth quarter.

Defense made the big difference on the day. The Judges were limited to a mere 25 percent shooting on field goals and turned the ball over 29 times. UChicago once again held sway on the boards with a 46-39 edge.

Farrell finished with 15 points in 19 minutes played. Senior guard Miranda Burt posted 11 points, while sophomore forward Klaire Steffens accounted for 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Senior forward Taylor Lake and first-year guard Grace Hynes had nine points apiece, with Lake handing out a team-high five assists.

UChicago made 38.5 percent of its field goals and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc (10-32) compared to 29.4 percent for the home team (5-17).