The undefeated and top-seeded New York University women's basketball team opened defense of its 2024 NCAA title with a 102-62 victory over Gallaudet University in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament on Friday, March 7, at the John A. Paulson Center in Manhattan.

This victory, the nation's-best 57th-straight for NYU, came with early trouble as the Bison became only the fourth team this season to grab a lead against the Violets. Gallaudet scored the first six points of the game, the furthest NYU has trailed by this season, and led 11-10 with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter.

However, Natalie Bruns' basket began an 8-0 NYU run and the Violets never trailed again.

It was 34-22 at the end of the first quarter and the lead grew to 25 points at halftime, 60-35. 

After three quarters, NYU led 85-45.

Natalie Bruns led five Violets in double-figures with 18 points (including 8-of-9 from the field), while also distributing a game-high seven assists.

Zahra Alexander finished with a career-high 13 points. Belle Pellecchia also had 13 points along with five steals, four rebounds and four assists.

Jamie Behar contributed 11 points and six rebounds, and Brooke Batchelor added 10 points. 

"Our bench play was amazing tonight," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "I think our depth was the difference. We started slow, but I was proud of how our team responded." 

The Violets will now host Trinity (CT) College in the second round of the tournament back at the Paulson Center on Saturday night at 7:30pm.