After losing to the fifth-ranked University of Rochester Friday night, the Brandeis women’s basketball team lost to Emory University Sunday afternoon. Losing both games at home by a margin of more than 20 points, the Judges are now 7-7 on the season, including 0-3 in the University Athletic Association game.
Although Friday’s contest appeared one-sided, the final score of 77-56 did not reflect how close the game was. In the first half, in which there were 11 lead changes, the Judges led by as many as five, with a 28-23 lead. The Judges’ defense played well, holding Rochester to just 35 percent shooting from the field. The Yellowjackets finished the first half on a 10-2 run, however, going to the locker room with a 33-30 lead against the Judges.
Brandeis started the second half with a 7-3 run, tying the game up at 37 apiece. After that, however, Rochester would lead for the remainder of the game. The Yellowjackets went on a 12-3 run, but Brandeis guards Diana Cincotta ’11 and Kelly Ethier ’12 kept the Judges in the game, knocking down three-pointers and making it just a two-point game with 10:30 left in the contest.
The excellent play of Rochester senior forward Jodie Luther was too much for the Judges to handle, however, and the Yellowjackets pulled away with a career-high of 32 points that night, 14 of which came in the final 10 minutes of action. Luther shot 10-of-12 from the floor, including 2-2 from three-point range, and 10-10 from the charity stripe. Luther also finished with eight boards and three assists.
For the game, the Judges struggled from the field, shooting only 33 percent and turning the ball over 15 times while the Yellowjackets finished with only seven turnovers. Something encouraging for Brandeis is that they outrebounded Rochester 45-41, including 21-13 on the offensive boards. Judges guard Morgan Kendrew ’12 led the team with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while coming down with six rebounds.
Hoping to rebound from the tough loss, the Judges faced Emory University Sunday afternoon. Kendrew had another good game, scoring 11 of the Judges’ 16 points in the first five minutes of the contest and helping the Judges get off to a fast start. Seven minutes into the game, the Judges had a 20-15 lead after going 7-for-12 from the field.
The Emory Eagles then went on a 20-7 run during the remaining 13 minutes of the half in which the Judges went just 1-for-16 from the field. Eagle guard Hannah Lilly scored 18 first half points, going 7-for-10 from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. She finished with 23 points to lead all players.
Things did not improve for Brandeis in the second half, as the Judges were outscored 35-13, shooting just 23 percent from the floor. Overall, the Judges turned the ball over 28 times, compared to 14 Eagles turnovers. The Eagles efficiently converted Brandeis turnovers into 26 points, while the Judges only scored five points off turnovers. Emory also made 13 of its 34 three-point attempts, in comparison to the Judges’ poor 4-for-17 effort. Kendrew finished the game with 11 points to lead Brandeis, while guard Hannah Cain ’15 added eight points and nine boards.
The Judges, who have now lost three-straight games, hope to put an end to their losing streak Friday night when they travel to eighth-ranked Washington University in St. Louis. The team will then head to second-ranked University of Chicago on Sunday afternoon.
