The New York University women's basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament with an 81-62 win over Emmanuel College on Friday, March 6, in Brunswick, ME.  

NYU will now face host Bowdoin College in the second round at 7:00pm on Saturday.

After leading by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Violets (21-5) fell behind by one, 51-50, late in the third quarter.

But, a short jumper by Jenny Walker (Sausalito, CA/Redwood) put NYU back in the lead and Annie Barrett (Cambridge, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) made all three free throws after being fouled with two seconds left in the quarter to give NYU a lead in would never relinquish.

NYU outscored Emmanuel 26-11 in a dominant fourth quarter as the Violets went on to the 19-point victory. 

"Our league, the UAA, has taught us how to fight for four quarters," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "It's been our theme all year that if we're in it in the fourth, we can win it. We just did a great job of executing down the stretch." 

The Violets fell behind quickly in the game as the Saints scored the first five points.

But, Katie Foos' (Rumson, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) three-pointer gave NYU its first lead, 12-11, and the Violets went on to a 19-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.   

Janean Cuffee (New York, NY/The Lawrenceville School) hit consecutive layups to open the second quarter and the Violets went on to increase their lead to 11 points, 31-20, on Cuffee's long three-pointer with 5:36 remaining in the half.

Emmanuel scored the next eight points, but NYU increased its lead back up to eight before settling for a 36-32 lead at halftime. 

The Violets attempted 21 three-pointers in the first half and made six, with Foos going 4-of-11 from behind the arc. In contrast, the Saints missed on their only long-ball attempt, but their significant rebounding advantage, 27-14, kept the game tight at intermission.   

NYU went ahead by as many as seven points in the third quarter before Emmanuel took its final lead.

But, the Violets scored the first five points of the final quarter and went on to lead by 19 points on two occasions. 

"It was kind of a tale of two halves," Barber explained. "We got out early and did a great job on the perimeter, then finished up by going to Jenny down low at the end."

Cuffee led all scorers with 24 points, while Walker finished with 20. Both players had a team-high seven rebounds.

Foos contributed 19 points, including five three-pointers.

Yuleska Ramirez-Tejada led Emmanuel with 20 points.
 
Barrett, who came into the game needing nine assists to tie the NYU career record of 429, recorded eight on Friday.

"I think there's a chance I can get one tomorrow," Barrett said with a smile. "But, I'd rather win."  

 


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