PHOTO By Max Shay/The Hoot
The Judges started off strong against the Wash U. Bears on Sunday, getting a 13-4 lead less than seven minutes into the game. The Bears seemed to snap out of it at that point and, over the next 7:30, outscored the Judges 19-2 and didn’t allow the Judges a single field goal during that time. With 6:17 left in the first half, the Bears had a 23-15 lead over Brandeis. At that point, the Judges answered back with a run of their own, going 8-0, and a pair of free throws from Jessica Chapin ’10 tied the game at 23-23. Despite the show of power by Brandeis, Wash U. countered in the remaining minutes of the half, shooting six turnovers and holding Brandeis to 1-for-4. After scoring 15 of the last 18 points of the first half, Wash U. had a 38-26 lead at intermission.
With 16:43 left in the second half, the Judges managed to narrow the Bears lead to seven points, 43-36, on a Chapin trifecta, but Wash U. immediately answered back. Lauren Orlando ’09 got two free throws on Brandeis’ next possession, but the team was unable to get the deficit under 10 points for the rest of the game. In addition to having the game’s leading scorer with 21 points, Janice Evans ’10, the Bears also outscored the Judges 27-4 on turnovers. Brandeis was led in scoring by Chapin who had 18 points, including 4-of-4 from the line and downtown as well as making 5-of-10 from the field. Chapin also had five assists and rebounds. Diana Cincotta ’11 contributed 12 points and Amanda Wells ’09 had her second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
In Friday’s game against the University of Chicago Maroons, Brandeis couldn’t repeat their previous success against the team. The Judges fell 63-50 against the Maroons after beating them by almost an identical score five days earlier. As was the case with Sunday’s game against Wash U., Brandeis had a strong start against the Maroons, taking a 10-4 lead by hitting four of their first five shots. With 6:28 left in the first half, the Maroons took the lead for the first time at 17-16 off a Karly Kasper ’11 jumper and didn’t fall behind again.
Brandeis only hit three of their last 23 shots and was held without a field goal for the final 7:35 of the first while Chicago closed on a decisive 14-2 run, taking a 28-18 lead into the second half. The Judges were just 7-28 (25%) from the floor in the first half, compared to Chicago who shot 11-17 (64.7%). Despite the low percentage, Brandeis player Cassidy Dadaos ’09 led all players in the first with seven points.
Chicago opened the second half with another run, scoring the first six points and taking a 34-18 lead. The lead stayed in double figures until, with 6:21 left in the game, the Judges fought it back down to within nine at 45-36. Rookie Morgan Kendrew ’12 cut the Maroons lead to 47-39 on a three-pointer with 5:25 left, but Brandeis was unable to keep the momentum going, resulting in the 63-50 loss.
Kendrew, who made her first collegiate start, hit 3-of-7 from 3-point range and scored a career-high 14 points, 11 of which came in the second half. She also led the judges with six rebounds, another career-best. Captain Jessica Chapin also made significant contributions to the team, shooting 8 of her 12 points in the second half as well as recording a game-high four assists. The Judges committed only 14 turnovers while forcing 23, but could not overcome a 46-30 rebounding disadvantage or the 23-9 advantage Chicago had from the free-throw line.
This weekend Brandeis is on the road again, facing off against both the highest and lowest ranked teams in the UAA. The Judges will play Carnegie Mellon (0-9 in the UAA) on Friday night and the Rochester (8-1 in the UAA) on Sunday. Carnegie Mellon is coming off a six game losing streak while Rochester, currently ranked second, has won their last four games.
