The top-ranked and undefeated New York University women's basketball team led from start to finish in its 86-59 victory over the University of Rochester on Friday, January 26, at the John A. Paulson Center in Manhattan.

The Violets (17-0, 6-0) scored the first nine points of the University Athletic Association (UAA) contest and never led by less than six the rest of the way en route to the second-best start in program history (the 1995-96 team opened the season 20-0).   

NYU increased its lead to as many as 14 points before settling for a 25-13 advantage after the first quarter. 

After the Yellowjackets (8-9, 3-3) cut their deficit to 10 points, 25-15, the Violets went on a 17-2 run to take its biggest lead. 

Natalie Bruns' layup with just 18 seconds remaining increased the NYU lead to 52-25 at halftime.

The Violets opened the second half by scoring the first four points as the lead ballooned to a then-game-high 31 points.

Reese Tremitiere's free throws gave NYU a 32-point lead, 71-39, at the end of the third quarter. 

Rochester began the final quarter on a 10-3 run to pull within 25, 74-49.

The Yellowjackets never got any closer as the Violets closed out the 27-point victory.

"It was just 40 minutes of outstanding defense," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "Just an elite defensive performance from some of our starters and from our bench."

Bruns finished as the game's high scorer with 20 points. Morgan Morrison and Belle Pellecchia each had 14 points, with Pellecchia adding eight rebounds, three assists and four steals.

A total of 16 Violets saw the court for NYU, while no one played more than Pellecchia's 24 minutes. 

"With a tough Emory team coming in on Sunday, it was good to rest some of the starters and have some of our other players get some more experience," Barber added.

The Violets will host Emory University on Sunday at 2:00pm back at the Paulson Center.