Box Score

The New York University women's basketball team hung tough with second-ranked and undefeated University of Chicago, but ultimately fell 57-42 on Friday, February 17, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
 
Despite becoming the first team to hold the Maroons (23-0, 12-0) under 60 points this season, as well as forcing Chicago into its second-worst shooting performance of the year (34.4%), the Violets (10-13, 2-10) were done in on the boards. Chicago held a 52-34 advantage on the glass and pulled down 20 offensive rebounds.
 
NYU also struggled offensively, shooting just 30.4% (17-56) for the game and 26.7% (4-15) from three-point range.
 
“I thought we executed our defensive game plan very well,” said Violet head coach Stefano Trompeo. “We made them feel uncomfortable on offense a bit. They're a legitimate #2 team in the nation and we were right with them for most of the game. We just didn't do enough offensively.”
 
With the victory, the Maroons clinched the outright University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship for the second season in a row. Chicago also extended its regular-season unbeaten streak to 41 games and its UAA winning streak to 26 contests.
 
After going scoreless for six minutes midway through the first half, NYU made a push late in the period to enter halftime only down two. Whitney Hooper ended the long scoreless drought with a jumper at the 7:14 mark, making it 19-13 in favor of the visitors.
 
After a Morgan Herrick jumper, Hooper and Melissa Peng responded with back-to-back three-pointers, pulling the Violets to within two with 3:53 left. Chicago eventually gained a five-point advantage with 51 seconds left on a pair of Maggie Ely free throws, but Peng banked in a 30-footer at the buzzer to send NYU into the locker room down just 25-23.
 
Chicago opened the second half on a 7-0 run, though, building a nine-point advantage. A Bianca Storts jumper ended the spurt, and a Peng three-point play cut the Maroons' lead to four with 14:06 left.
 
But Chicago went on another big run, this time, 9-0, going up 13 on a Morgan Donovan layup with 10:26 left. The Violets got as close as seven on a Shelby Coon jumper with 6:25 left, but the Maroons pulled away in the final minutes.
 
Peng scored a career-high nine points and had three assists to lead NYU. Makenzie Hirz also netted nine points, while Storts finished with seven.
 
Taylor Simpson paced Chicago with 15 points, eight rebounds (seven offensive) and seven assists. Meghan Herrick had 12 points and eight boards, while Bryanne Halfhill totaled 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
 
The Violets return to action on Sunday for a home 2:00 pm contest against #12 Washington University. Prior to the game, NYU will honor its five seniors, who will be playing their final game at Coles.