How sweet it is!

The undefeated (27-0) and top-ranked New York University women's basketball team soundly defeated host DeSales University 93-59 on Saturday, March 2, in Center Valley, PA, and are returning to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

The Violets scored the first 12 points of the game, with half of them coming on back-to-back three-pointers from Erica Miller, and went on to the overwhelming win.

Natalie Bruns, the University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year, lived up to her billing. The Violets' all-time leader in blocked shots was dominant on both ends of the court, producing a double-double with game-highs of 20 points (8-10 FG, 3-3 FT, 1-1 3FG) and 10 rebounds, while also blocking three shots and dishing out a game-high six assists.

The Violets connected on more than half of their three-point shots (13-of-25) and shot 52 percent (34-of-59) overall.

Postgame Press Conference:



Following its opening run, NYU increased its lead to 15 points, 22-7, on Caroline Peper's trey, but DeSales closed the gap to 22-13 after the first quarter.

The Bulldogs pulled within five points on several occasions in the second quarter, but got no closer.

The Violets extended their lead to 17 points, 40-23, on Eden Williamson's three-pointer with 3:54 left and went on to lead 49-36 at halftime. 

NYU's offense was deadly accurate in the first half, shooting 67.9 percent (19-of-28) from the field and 60.0 percent (6-of-10) from three-point range.  

Another pair of Miller consecutive threes opened the second half and gave NYU its biggest lead, 55-36.

"I wasn't even thinking about making shots. I just wanted to be there for my teammates," said Miller, who finished with those 12 points. "But, they found me on those shots. They found me open. I really owe it to them for putting me in positions to make those shots."

The margin grew even wider when Peper hit back-to-back threes and NYU headed into the final quarter up by 33, 78-45. 

The lead continued to grow and reached 41 points, 89-48, on Belle Pellecchia's layup with 5:16 left in the game. Pellecchia, who finished with eight points and five assists, became  just the 19th player in program history to reach 1,000 points.  

"It felt great to get to 1,000," Pellecchia said. "To share that with my teammates and our parents who were there was awesome. I wish I could have done it at home, but no problem there."

Peper finished with 18 points, all from behind the arc (6-of-9). Morgan Morrison scored 17 points, hit 7-of-10 from the field, and added eight rebounds and four blocks.

The NYU defense was stifling, holding DeSales to 31.4 percent (22-of-70) shooting.

"Absolutely our most complete game of the season," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "I'm going to sleep well tonight." 

The Violets' next opponent will be Hardin-Simmons.