It's now 12 games and 12 wins for the #5-ranked New York University Women's Basketball Team.

In another dominating performance, the Violets (12-0, 3-0) secured exclusive possession of first place in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with a 79-58 win over previously-unbeaten Carnegie Mellon University (8-4, 2-1) on Sunday, January 16, in Brooklyn.

"I can't say I expected us to be undefeated after 12 games," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "But, seeing how we came back from break and the shape we were in, I knew we had a committed team that's eager to get even better."

The Violets fell behind 2-0, but scored the next eight points of the game and never trailed again. They led 18-14 after the first quarter and 38-25 at halftime.  

NYU went ahead by as many as 16 points on several occasions before settling for a 55-43 lead after three quarters.

A three-pointer to open the fourth brought the Tartans within nine. But, Belle Pellecchia's (Randolph, NJ/Rutgers Prepatory) ensuing three-point play re-established a double-digit lead which the Violets maintained the rest of the way.

Mary Kate Fahey's (Arlington Heights, IL/John Hersey) layup with 11 ticks left gave NYU its biggest lead of the contest, 79-55.    

Depth continues to be the Violets' strength, as four players scored in double figures: Jordan Janowski (Woodcliff Lake, NJ/Saddle River Day School) (16), Pellechia (13), Erica Miller (Alamo, CA/Carondelet) (11), and Natalie Bruns (St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood) (11). Brooklyn Shelton (Botetourt, VA/Lord Botetourt) had nine points and Jenny Walker (Sausalito, CA/Redwood) added eight and a team-high five assists.

"What people don't see is that we are utilizing our depth in practice in order to get better everyday," Barber explained. "It prepares us for the gauntlet of UAA teams that continue to come our way."

Janowski also contributed five rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Bruns had six blocks and Pellechia contributed a team-high six rebounds.  

"I feel like I didn't hold back and took the opportunities I saw and just felt it," Janowski said. "We were pumped. For me, this is obviously my first year actually playing and the energy of the team has been so great. They really got me going and that's what really pushed me today."

The Violets, one of only nine remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division III, return to the court on Friday, January 21, when they travel to face Washington University in St. Louis. Tipoff for the UAA contest is set for 7:30pm central time.