Women's Basketball Stumbles Against #6 Washington in Home Finale

Grace Carmen had 11 points and six rebounds on Family Day.

New York University found itself on the wrong end of a 23-4 run spanning both halves Sunday afternoon, which ultimately resulted in Sunday's 58-50 loss to #6-ranked Washington University in a battle of University Athletic Association (UAA) rivals at the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center.

Prior to the Bears' uprising, the Violets (13-9, 5-6 UAA) had scored eight straight points, including four from Grace Carmen, to take a 19-13 lead 3:22 before halftime. One of three seniors honored beforehand on Family Day, Carmen finished with 11 points and six rebounds in her final regular-season contest at the Coles Sports Center.

However, Washington scored the last seven points of the opening stanza, includiing five from Kathryn Berger (15 points, 7 rebounds), to take a 20-19 lead into intermission. For the most part, the first 20 minutes featured stellar defensive play, leading to NYU going 7-for-25 (28.0%) from the floor and Washington making just eight of its 29 attempts (27.6%).

"They fought from minute one to minute 40," NYU head coach Stefano Trompeo said. "I'm proud of them. Everything we asked them to do, we executed."

Zoe Unruh got the Bears started in the second half, converting a jumper and a three-pointer, before Janice Evans (14 points, 8 boards) converted a lay-up to make it 27-19 just 1:49 into the final period. A Chelsea Blake (10 points, 7 rebounds) jumper halted Washington's 14-0 surge and pulled NYU within 27-21, but the trio of Evans, Bethany Morrison and Unruh each converted from beyond the three-point arc to make it a 23-4 surge and give Washington its largest lead, 36-23, with 12:41 left.

NYU narrowed its deficit to seven points five times, but managed just two field goals over the final 5:13.

Neither team developed an offensive rhythm for long, though. Washington shot 32.8% (20-for-61) from the field and went 5-for-16 (31.3%) from beyond the three-point arc, while the Violets hit 18 of their 56 shots (32.1%), including a 6-for-21 showing (28.6%) from long range.

Claire Schaeperkoetter added 14 points for Washington, which went 13-for-20 (65.0%) at the charity stripe and owned a 43-41 rebounding advantage. NYU was 8-for-14 (57.1%) on its free throws.

Prior to the game, the Violets honored their four graduating players: Carmen, Emily Foshag, Jen Hum-Traverso and Hailey Kimball.

NYU will end the regular season with three-straight road games. This string begins next Friday, Feb. 19, with a 6 p.m. tip-off against Emory University in Atlanta.