CHICAGO, Ill. -- Brandeis University rookie guard Morgan
Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./Barnstable) notched a career-high
14 points to lead all scorers, but the Judges couldn't overcome an
extended streak without a field goal tonight as they fell to the
host University of Chicago Maroons, 63-50, in University Athletic
Association action. The 24th-ranked Judges fall to 13-5 on the
season, 3-5 in the UAA, while Chicago improves to 14-5, 5-3 in the
league by avenging a loss from last Sunday.
Brandeis got off to a fast start, opening up an early 8-2 lead
and taking a 10-4 margin by hitting four of their first five shots
of the contest. Unfortunately, they went cold from there, hitting
just three of their last 23 from the floor in the first. The
Maroons claimed their first lead of the contest at 17-16, on a
Karly Kasper jumper with 6:28 left, and never trailed again. They
held Brandeis without a field goal over the final 7:35 of the first
half, closing on a 14-2 run to take a 28-18 lead into the break.
Brandeis senior Cassidy Dadaos (Healdsburg,
Calif./Healdsburg) had seven points in the first half to lead all
players, while Meghan Herrick had six points off the bench to guide
the hosts. Chicago shot 64.7% from the floor in the first half
(11-17), while Brandeis was just 7-28 (25%).
The second half opened even further in the Maroons' favor, as
they scored the first six points to take a 34-18 lead on two Alex
Leach free throws. UC was able to keep the lead in double figures
until the Judges got within nine at 45-36 with 6:21 left. A
traditional three-point play by Kendrew with 5:25 left trimmed the
lead to 47-39, but the Judges were unable to climb any closer than
that in suffering the 13-point loss.
Kendrew, who was making her first collegiate start, scored 11 of
her career-high 14 in the second half. She needed 4-of-13 shooting
to get there, but hit 3-of-7 from 3-point range. She also led
the Judges with a career-best six rebounds. Junior Jessica
Chapin (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) added 12 points,
eight in the second half, and a game-high four assists. The Judges
forced 23 turnovers while committing just 14, but were unable to
overcome a 46-30 rebounding disadvantage - a week after getting 14
more boards from the Maroons.
Chicago was paced by 12 points from rookie Bryanne Halfhill, the
leading candidate for UAA Rookie of the Year. She also added seven
rebounds, one behind teammate Jaime Stinston. Michaela White added
10 points off the bench for the Maroons. Chicago shot 43.9 percent
from the field for the game thanks to their hot start, as they hit
just 29 percent in the second half. Chicago used a 25-8 edge in
bench scoring and a 23-9 advantage in scoring from the free-throw
line.
Brandeis is next in action on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Time at Washington University, while Chicago hosts NYU at
the same time.
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