Erica Miller's career-high 17 points lifted the #5-ranked New York University Women's Basketball Team to a comeback, 76-68 victory over Brandeis University in the Violets' University Athletic Association (UAA) opener on Saturday, January 8, in Waltham, MA.

It was NYU's (10-0, 1-0) first UAA contest since February 29, 2020 -- another win over Brandeis in Waltham -- as the Violets won their 10th-straight game for the team's first 10-0 start to a season since 2015-16.

"We were a bit rusty coming off a long layoff, but our depth was a really big factor in being able to compete for 40 minutes and pull out the road win," said Head Coach Meg Barber.

A pair of Jenny Walker free throws put NYU ahead 14-7 halfway through the first, but the Judges (5-5, 0-1) forced six Violet turnovers in the frame to cut their deficit to four points (23-19) at the end of one.

Brandeis opened the second quarter with nine unanswered points to take a 27-23 lead with 8:10 on the clock. The Violets kept pace, however, as a Miller layup tied the score at 41 late in the period. Tathiana Pierre then netted one of two free-throws with 35 seconds left, putting the hosts up 42-41 at the break.

The Judges' Camila Casanueva hit a long-range jumper at the 5:10 mark of the third to give Brandeis a seven-point lead (52-45), its largest of the game. But, a pair of Violet buckets in the final minute of the quarter brought them within three (56-53) entering the fourth.

NYU jumped back on top for good, 61-60, after a Mary Kate Fahey jumper with just over six minutes remaining. The Violets didn't look back, outscoring Brandeis 23-12 in the fourth to remain undefeated.

"In the final 10 minutes, our defense was the difference maker," Barber added. "Natalie Bruns, Jenny Walker and Brooklyn Shelton really shut down their interior play and our guards did a great job pushing in transition to secure the win with some easy buckets down the stretch."

Miller, usually a lights-out three-point shooter, shot 2-for-9 from deep but found other ways to score on the way to her career high. She went 7-for-14 from the field and pulled down four boards in the win.

Belle Pellecchia contributed 14 points (6-for-10 FG), six rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Jordan Janowski finished with 13 points (five assists, two steals) while Walker nearly missed a double-double, notching 12 points and nine boards (three blocks).

Natalie Bruns was on double-double watch as well, totaling eight points (4-for-8 FG), eight rebounds, two steals and a block. Brooklyn Shelton added nine points, four boards and two steals in 27 minutes off the bench. 

NYU continues the UAA schedule on Friday, January 14, hosting Case Western Reserve University at 8:00 pm.