The New York University women's basketball team, undefeated and top-ranked, tied the NCAA Division III record with its 81st consecutive win, defeating host Case Western Reserve University 73-65 on Friday, February 6, in Cleveland, OH.

The Violets are now tied with fellow University Athletic Association (UAA) member Washington University in St. Louis, who won 81 straight from 1998-2001.  

NYU will attempt to own the record exclusively when they play at Carnegie Mellon University on Sunday.

The host Spartans led most of the first quarter on Friday night, but Brooke Batchelor's long three-pointer beat the buzzer and gave NYU a 22-20 lead.

NYU trailed 28-26 midway through the second quarter, but finished the first half on a 14-4 run to take a 40-33 lead at halftime.

Caroline Peper opened the second half with a three-pointer to give NYU its first double-digit lead. 

After the Spartans pulled within four, Olivia Lagao hit back-to-back threes to give NYU a 51-41 lead. 

Case Western Reserve scored the next four points, but again, a late-quarter three, this time from Peper, gave NYU a 59-49 advantage heading into the fourth.  

Peper, who was scoreless in the first half, had 10 of NYU's 19 points in the third quarter.

A late surge by the Spartans brought them within 68-65 with 2:28 remaining.

However, Lagao's jumper followed and the Violets defense did not allow another point the rest of the way as NYU earned its place in the history books. 

Lagao led a balanced NYU attack with 17 points. Aila Kaibara had 15, Peper finished with 13 and Zahra Alexander added 11.

Yasmene Clark grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, while Kaibara registered a game-high five assists.

The Violets now head to Pittsburgh in search of record-breaking win #82 in a 12:00pm contest on Sunday at Carnegie Mellon.