The New York University women's basketball team lost its first game of the 2014-15 season, dropping an 87-73 decision to the University of Chicago in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest on Sunday, January 25, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
The #7-ranked (USA Today/D3hoops.com) Violets had opened the season with 15 consecutive victories, the team's best start to a campaign since the 1997 NCAA Division III Championship team began 16-0.
NYU (15-1, 4-1 UAA) led by four points early in the game, but could not sustain the advantage. The Violets shot only 34.4% (11-31) from the field in the first half as Chicago (10-6, 4-1) took control and raced to a 46-31 lead at halftime.
The Violets fell behind by as many as 20 points in the second half, but closed to within eight, 63-55, on a rare five-point play with 10:19 remaining. On
Maya Wasowicz's successful three-pointer,
Emily Rowe was fouled and connected on both of her free throws.
However, that was as close as the Violets would get as the Maroons, who shot 62.2% (28-45) in the game, responded with a 17-5 streak to clinch the victory.
"Both teams are really aggressive, but I know that we did not adjust well to the increase in fouls called or play great one-on-one defense," said NYU Assistant Coach Cassandra Loftus. "Chicago hit a lot of tough shots and they hit their free throws." HIGHLIGHTS: -
Amy Harioka scored a career- and game-high 18 points. She added three rebounds, an assist and two steals.
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Kaitlyn Read had 15 points and seven rebounds, while totaling three assists and three steals.
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Rowe led the Violets with nine rebounds and scored 10 points.
- NYU's other double-digit scorer was
Melissa Peng, who finished with12 points. She also led the Violets with four assists while adding three steals.
"We'll begin working on
a new winning streak when we get back to practice," Loftus added. "We just take it day-by-day, possession-by-possession, win or loss."The Violets will be back in action on Friday night, January 30, when they host UAA-rival University of Rochester at Coles for a scheduled 6:00 pm tip.
Live stats and
live video will be available. Friday night's doubleheader between NYU and the Yellowjackets will also be the first
Violet Nation Giveaway Day of the basketball season.
