CHICAGO, Ill. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team was within five points against #17 University of Chicago to start the fourth quarter, but the hosts outscored the Judges, 24-8, in the final period to earn a 57-36 University Athletic Association victory this evening.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis: 11-4, 1-3 UAA.
• Chicago: 11-3, 3-1 UAA, ranked #17 in Division III by d3hoops.com.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Chicago led for the entire first half of the contest as both teams struggled from the floor.
• The Maroons were ahead, 12-7, after one period as Brandeis hit just 3-of-15 (20%). UC wasn't a whole lot better, shooting 4-12 (33%), but they did connect on all four free throws.
• Chicago opened the second quarter with their only 3-pointer of the game from Chris Sanders to take their largest lead at 15-7.
• Brandeis still trailed by eight at 19-12 with 5:53 left in the half, but they held Chicago to just one field goal the rest of the way.
• The Judges closed within one point on a lay-up by senior Abby Kennedy (Half Moon Bay, Calif./Half Moon Bay) that made it 20-19 with 1:09 left before halftime.
• The Judges had a chance to tie it up before the break, but Chicago got a stop and Sanders hit bucket with 15 seconds to go to give the hosts a 23-19 lead.
• Brandeis was able to keep it close in the first half by forcing 13 Chicago turnovers, helping them overcome a 22-13 rebounding deficit.
• The Judges continued their strong defense early in third, as the Maroons had just one made field goal in the first 7:31.
• Brandeis eventually took their first lead on two Kennedy free throws to take a 28-27 lead with 3:23 to go.
• Chicago responded by closing the period by scoring the final six points, taking a 33-28 lead into the fourth.
• The Maroons clamped down in the fourth quarter for the third-straight game, as they outscored Brandeis, 24-8.
• Chicago connected on 54% shooting in the fourth (7-13), while holding the Judges to 25% (3-12). The Maroons were 3-of-3 from downtown in the period and 7-of-7 from the line.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Judges were held to their lowest scoring total of the season as well as their lowest shooting percentage (22.6%, 12-53).
• Kennedy, the second-leading scorer in the UAA, was limited to just 11 points, seven below her season average.
• Senior Katherine Vaughan (Bedford, Mass./Bedford) added seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.
• Sophomore Saviah Shabazz (Plano, Texas/Plano East) had six points, five rebounds and a career-high six steals.
• Chicago was led by Sanders, who scored 19 points, and Annabelle Spotts, who had 13 and eight rebounds. Caroline Workman had four assists for the Maroons.
• The hosts won the battle of the boards, 40-28, offsetting Brandeis's 23-18 turnover advantage. The Maroons limited their damage off the miscues, outscoring Brandeis, 24-14.

UP NEXT

• The Judges will meet their fourth ranked UAA opponent in four games on Sunday afternoon when they travel to #15 Washington University for a 3 p.m. Eastern/2 Central tip-off. The game has been pushed back by two hours because of the impending winter storm.