With the signs of springtime that are in the air, the 2024-25 basketball season has come to an end. The changing of the seasons is always a bittersweet time of year as the seasonal sports have a quasi changing of the guard moment. With the excitement of the spring sports seasons commencing also comes the sadness and gratitude that a season concluding invokes.
Since the start of March, the women’s basketball team closed out their season with their final game at home against the New York University (NYU) Violets. The Judges were not able to come out of this game victorious, as the Violets are the Division III defending champions. Playing against the #1 team in the nation for your final game of the season—and for some, career—is a privilege, though leaving the season off on a high note is always nice.
Despite losing this game, the Judges’ women’s basketball team came away with a 12-13 overall season record with a 5-9 University Athletic Association (UAA) Conference record. This record is seven wins better than last season, and four in-conference wins more than last season. Overall, this is some of the best basketball the women’s team has displayed in the past several years. After the adversity they overcame with a coaching change and the attention the team was getting over the summer due to this, they truly rose to the occasion this season and did not disappoint.
Additionally, three Judges, Lulu Ohm ’25, Abby Kennedy ’26 and Katherine Vaughan ’26, were all named All-UAA team players for their stellar performance this season. This honor is something that all three of these talented athletes should be extremely proud of. Playing in one of the best DIII conferences in the nation is no easy feat, but being named All-Conference is something that is quite remarkable. Well done, Judges!
Now to the final women’s basketball recap of the year.
Prior to the game, the three seniors on the team, Caitlin Gresko ’25, Lulu Ohm ’25 and Mollie Obar ’25, were all honored for their fantastic careers as Judges. They conclude their basketball careers with not only countless memories tied to the sport, but also so much athletic and personal growth that undoubtedly makes them all better women today. Hanging up the basketball shoes is something that their minds will find difficult, but their knees will be forever thankful to have been relieved of their court-related duties for the time being.
The NYU Violets came into the game ready to show Waltham who they were and why they are ranked #1 in the country. They ended up beating the Judges 89-58, out-scoring the Judges in every quarter. Having an undefeated record this season, this was no surprise to the Judges. Despite the rather unfortunate final matchup of the season, I hope that the seniors were able to enjoy their last game at Red Auerbach Arena and drink it all in. In their final game as a Judge, Ohm ’25 scored 13-points, Gresko ’25 scored seven points and a team-high five rebounds and Obar ’25 had four rebounds. Ohm ’25 concluded her career as a Judge with 724 points, which ranks her 24th all-time in Brandeis history. This season alone, she finished the season leading the UAA in scoring average with 18.2 points per game, while her 456 points scored this season were the second-most points scored in a single season by a Judge ever.
Looking ahead, the Judges have a young team with major potential. The hope is that they will keep this momentum up in the coming off-season and continue to bring the heat next year for the 2025-26 season. We thank the women’s basketball team for an entertaining season and wish them all the best in their off season to come.
