#11/13 Women's Basketball Turns Back #7/8 Brandeis on Road, 61-49

McEntee, Foshag Spark Offense, While Defense Holds Judges Below 30.0% Shooting

Jessica McEntee moved into fifth-place all-time on the Violets' scoring charts.

Another strong all-around game by Jessica McEntee and an inspired effort by Emily Foshag enabled New York University to defeat Brandeis University, 61-49, in a battle of top-15 ranked teams and University Athletic Association (UAA) women's basketball powers Saturday afternoon at Red Auerbach Arena in Waltham, MA.

NYU (12-1, 2-1 UAA) entered the game ranked #11 in the USA Today ESPN Division III Coaches' Poll and #13 by D3Hoops.com, while Brandeis (11-2, 1-2 UAA) was #7 in the D3Hoops.com rankings and #8 in the USA Today ESPN Poll.

McEntee recorded her 10th double-double in 12 games, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Meanwhile, Foshag poured in 11 of her 15 points in the second half as the Violets (12-1, 2-1 UAA) held off a few charges by the Judges (11-2, 1-2 UAA)

Already the program's all-time leader in free throws made and attempted, McEntee also moved into fifth place on NYU's all-time scoring list by hitting a free throw with 18:38 remaining, pushing her past Chris Robinson (1,425 points, 1983-87). McEntee now has 1,435 career points.

McEntee netted seven of the Violets' first eight points to start the second half, but Brandeis pulled within 39-36 on a Carmela Breslin trifecta with 11:42 remaining. From there, Sarah McDevitt canned a pair of threes, Foshag hit a triple and a fast-break lay-up, McEntee went 2-for-2 at the line and Megan Fox (career-high-tying 12 rebounds) went 1-for-2 to extend the NYU advantage to 50-38 with 7:21 remaining.

Eventually, however, Brandeis pulled within 52-48 after Lauren Orlando (15 points) scored five straight points. Foshag then asserted herself offensively, drawing contact on a fast-break lay-up attempt that eventually led to a pair of free throws, before a pull-up jumper off a dribble drive began a 9-1 closing run that helped NYU claim one of its most impressive victories this season.

Inspired halfcourt defense also proved pivotal, as the Violets held the Judges to 29.2% shooting (19-for-65) overall, including just 23.5% (8-for-34) in the first half, as they took a 27-22 lead into the break. McEntee and Jen Hum-Traverso (10 points) each contributed seven tallies apiece during the opening stanza.

"The two major things we discussed were our defensive gameplan and how we had to stick together through the goods and the bads," NYU interim head coach Stefano Trompeo said. "We did a really good job with both things and that helped us win the game."

NYU shot 38.6% (17-for-44) overall, but hit 67.7% (21-for-31) of its free throws and owned a 40-34 rebounding advantage. Conversely, Brandeis got to the line just seven times, hitting just four of its attempts (57.1%).

NYU returns to action Monday, Jan. 19, for its annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day game against intracity rival Hunter College. Tip-off time is 6 p.m.