The New York University women's basketball team opened its two-game University Athletic Association (UAA) Midwest road trip with an 82-71 loss to the University of Chicago on Friday, January 24, in Chicago, IL.

The Maroons (12-3, 3-1) are currently ranked #16 in the latest D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, while the Violets (12-3, 2-2) are receiving votes.   

NYU got off to a quick start, taking a 12-4 lead and holding an advantage until Chicago's Grace Hynes hit a three-pointer just before time expired and gave the Maroons a 20-19 lead after the first quarter.

The game remained close throughout the second quarter. Chicago took a pair of three-point leads before Katie Foos' (Rumson, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) three-ball with 1:17 left put the Violets ahead 41-37. NYU held on to a two-point lead, 41-39, at halftime. 

Janean Cuffee (New York, NY/The Lawrenceville School), who played all 40 minutes and scored a game-high 31 points, had 19 in the first half for NYU, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. Chicago scored eight of its first-half points from the free-throw line, while NYU did not attempt a single foul shot.  

The Maroons scored the first seven points of the third quarter, a streak that was broken when Lauren Gast (St. Louis, MO/Villa Duchesne) attempted (and made) the first two free throws of the night for NYU.

Chicago soon extended its lead to seven points before NYU scored the following seven to create another tie. The Maroons went on to take a 61-58 lead at the end of the quarter. 

The Maroons opened the final quarter on a 6-0 run to take a quick nine-point lead. Cuffee's two free throws halted the streak, but only temporarily as Chicago's lead increased to 11 points on several occasions.

The Violets never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Cuffee finished the night 12-of-22 from the field and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, while adding two assists and two steals.

Alyssa Alvarez (Daly City, CA/Convent of the Sacred Heart), who tied a career high with 11 points, was the only other Violet to reach double figures.  Annie Barrett (Cambridge, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols), who also played the entire 40 minutes, recorded a game-high nine assists.

The Maroons, who shot an extremely efficient 58.5% (31-of-53) from the field, were led by Mia Farrell, who also scored 31 points.

The Violets now head to St. Louis, MO, for a game against Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2:00pm central time.