It's been nearly five months since either of New York University's basketball teams returned to the court. But, on Monday, August 12, in Shanghai, China, both Violet squads were back in action.

In the midst of their historic trip to the Far East, which includes both cultural and competition aspects, the Violets took to the court on NYU's Shanghai campus on Monday.

First up was the women's squad, which faced the Shanghai Swordfish, a Chinese professional women's basketball club based in Shanghai playing in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).     

After an early lead, the Violets fell behind by eight. However, a 9-0 run capped by a pair of Belle Pellecchia free throws, put NYU in front 22-21 after the first quarter.

Caroline Peper showed no rust from the long layoff, scoring 11 straight points for the Violets who took their own eight-point lead, 35-27. The Swordfish then stepped up, ending the second quarter on a 17-6 streak and taking a 44-41 lead into halftime.    

NYU reclaimed a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, but a late 9-0 run gave the Swordfish the lead for good en route to their 85-79 victory.

Peper led the Violets with 25 points, while Pellecchia finished with 12.

Zhou Jue Yan led the Swordfish with 15 points.  

"It was an amazing experience for our players to get a chance to compete against a different style of play and to see the way the games are played and officiated in different countries," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "It was a learning experience, a unique experience, and our team displayed tremendous pride in the way they represented NYU." 

In the second half of the doubleheader, the men faced the Shanghai Stars Worldwide.

The Violets scored the first nine points of the game, but the Stars rallied to take a 26-23 lead after the first quarter and a game-high 13-point lead, 38-25, in the second.

A 14-1 NYU run ensued, with Zay Freeney contributing most of those points as the Violets tied the contest.

Trailing 43-41 at halftime, Hampton Sanders scored the opening bucket, Quinn Clark hit a three-pointer and NYU never trailed again. 

Riyaan Jiwani began draining threes, and when Matt Volkening added a trey NYU opened its biggest lead of the game, 82-64, before going on to an 88-73 victory.

Freeney paced the Violets with 23 points and Jawani added 17.

"Very exciting. The guys were amped-up to play," said Head Coach Dave Klatsky. "The main point of this trip is to allow them to do something special together that they may never do again in their lives. Being able to build camaraderie and play together in a foreign country is something very, very unique." 

The teams' next games on the trip will take place on Wednesday, as the men play at East China Normal University while the women will play an intrasquad scrimmage back at NYU's Shanghai campus.

On, Friday, both squads will face Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Those games will be broadcast live throughout China on Great Sports and within the United States on ESPNU. That men's/women's doubleheader is set to begin at 6:00pm in Shanghai and 6:00am eastern time in the U.S.