Backed by a career-high 22 points from Chrissy Kilmurray, New York University pulled away from FDU-Florham for a 86-55 women's basketball victory in the NYU New Year's Classic on Saturday afternoon at the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
In the other Classic contest Saturday afternoon, Trish McMahon led four double-digit scorers with 17 points as St. Joseph's College (5-4) staved off Brooklyn College (6-4), 71-67. Priscilla Ramirez led the losing side with 20 tallies and 10 rebounds.
For NYU, Kilmurray hit seven of her eight shots and went 8-for-10 from the charity stripe, producing 15 of her tallies in the first half to surpass her previous career best of 13 against Salve Regina University in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championships. In addition, the 6-1 junior snared 10 rebounds in 21 minutes of action for her second consecutive double-double and third this season for the Violets (6-3).
"She's a very talented big body," NYU head coach Stefano Trompeo said. "If you get her the ball in the low block, there's not too many girls who can guard her. We got her the ball and, to her credit, she made shots."
FDU-Florham (6-5) saw its three-game victory run halted despite solid performances from Danielle Michlovsky and Shealyn Taggart. Michlovsky finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals for the Devils, while Taggart tallied 13 points.
Early on, the Devils received inspired play from Michlovsky and Taggart, seizing a 23-16 lead before the Violets rebounded with some potent inside-outside play.
Kilmurray scored six points at the outset of a decisive 27-6 surge that gave NYU a 43-29 lead 4:56 before the break, but received plenty of supporting help. Grace Carmen (16 points in 21 minutes) netted seven of her 14 opening-half tallies during the surge and was the third of a trio including Hailey Kimball and Chelsea Blake to can trifectas during an 11-0 surge that capped the outburst.
When the halftime horn sounded, the Violets left the floor with a 53-37 lead after enjoying their highest-scoring opening period this season. They accounted for 15 assists on their 18 field goals, including six helpers by Blake, and shot 50.0% (18-for-36) overall. NYU also canned eight of its 17 tries from three-point range.
NYU returns to action Sunday, Jan. 3, with a 4 p.m. matchup against St. Joseph's College (LI) in its second game of the New Year's Classic.
