In a battle between two programs that have only ever faced off in the NCAA Tournament, it was New York University's women's basketball team that pushed past the University of Scranton, 73-54, at DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland, MI on Friday night.

Junior guard Erica Miller set a career high in scoring for the second time this postseason, collecting 20 points and igniting a stagnant NYU offense in the first quarter.

Classmate Brooklyn Shelton added 17 off the bench as the Violets held Scranton to less than 29 percent shooting in both the third and fourth quarters to run away with the victory.

This is NYU's first trip to the Elite Eight since 2007, when the team reached the Final Four, and sixth overall. 

Advancing was no guarantee, especially early on as the Royals scored the game's first 11 points and NYU missed its first eight shots. Less than 20 seconds after Shelton entered the game the momentum shifted, however, as she and Miller combined for three straight triples to bring the Violets back within five (16-11).

NYU ended the first on an 11-3 run and trailed 17-13 entering the second. Another Miller three-pointer gave the Violets their first lead of the night, 18-17, with 8:37 to play before halftime. Scranton scored on its next possession to jump back ahead by one, but a layup from Natalie Bruns 20 seconds later gave the Violets a lead they never relinquished.

Miller poured in 17 points in the first half alone as NYU held a 37-30 lead at the break. The Royals came within four points twice in the third, but NYU outscored them 12-5 over the final 6:25 of the period to establish a double-digit lead (52-41) after three quarters.

Shelton scored 10 points in the second half alone and the Violets held Scranton to 28.6 percent shooting in the fourth to leave no doubt in this one. The Royals shot 50 percent from both the field and deep in the first half as NYU's defensive intensity was pivotal to its second-half success.

POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE



BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

• Miller, who scored a then-career-high 18 points in the first round of the tournament, hit six triples and added two assists, a rebound and a steal.
• Shelton was a pest on defense, along with her big scoring night, nabbing three steals while shooting 7-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-3 from deep. NYU outscored Scranton by 32 points when she was on the floor.
• Bruns finished with 14 points (4-of-8 FG), her second straight 14-point output, along with seven boards, three steals, two blocks and an assist.
• Jenny Walker chipped in 12 points (5-for-10 FG) with nine boards, two blocks and an assist.
• Jordan Janowski added eight points, six assists and three rebounds while Belle Pellecchia hustled her way to five boards, three steals and three assists.
• NYU shot 62.5 percent from the floor and 4-of-7 from three in its momentum-shifting second quarter. The Violets also forced 21 Scranton turnovers and outrebounded the Royals 35-29.

NEXT UP
NYU plays the winner of Hope College vs. Millikin University with a trip to the Final Four on the line tomorrow at DeVos Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7 pm.