Box Score
The New York University women's basketball team dropped its season finale 62-55 at Brandeis University on Saturday, February 25, in Waltham, MA.
With the loss, the Violets ended the season 10-15 overall and 2-12 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). Brandeis finished 9-16 and 2-12.
After a tight first half that featured seven lead changes, the Judges took a 27-25 lead into halftime following a Kasey Dean jumper with four seconds left.
Brandeis then maintained a slim lead for most of the second half, with the Violets continually keeping it a one-possession contest but never getting over the hump.
NYU twice got as close as one, first after a pair of
Alexis Doherty free throws with 9:36 left and again after a
Shelby Coon layup with 6:58 to go. In each instance, however, the Violets could not get a stop immediately after getting to within a point.
Following Coon's make, the Judges' Morgan Kendrew took over to give Brandeis a double-digit lead. First, Kendrew drained a triple, and then after another Coon make, hit a layup and a jumper.
Kendrew then made a steal on the ensuing possession and went to the basket, where she was fouled. She hit both free throws, single-handedly putting Brandeis up 54-46. Erika Higginbottom added a layup, capping an 11-2 run that put the Judges up 10 with 3:14 remaining.
Tana Bertino ended the run with a three-pointer, but the Violets could not get any closer than six the rest of the way.
“We made some runs, but we couldn't get stops when we needed them,” said NYU head coach Stefano Trompeo. “Any time we had a defensive lapse it went back to a two-possession game. We just didn't bring enough energy for the entire game.”
The game brought an end to the collegiate careers of the Violets' five seniors – Bertino,
Cara Bonito, Coon,
Erica Franke, and
Bianca Storts. Bonito had 16 points and four assists, while Coon recorded nine points and nine rebounds.
Storts netted six points, ending her career with 861. Bertino also had six, while Franke notched four points and four boards.
Kendrew paced Brandeis with 21 points on 6-9 shooting. Higginbottom totaled 18 points and nine rebounds.
