Otto’s Career Night Lifts Tartans to a 65-60 Victory at Brandeis

(WALTHAM, Mass.) – Freshman Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn.) recorded a career-high 22 points in leading the Carnegie mellon University women's basketball team to a 65-60 victory at Brandeis University in University Athletic Association (UAA) play. With the win, the Tartans improve to 2-0 in UAA play and 10-3 overall while Brandies drops to 7-6 and 1-1.  

The Tartans held the lead over the first 15 minutes of play until Brandeis' Samantha Mancinelli converted two foul shots making the score 20-19.  The lead was one that didn't last long as Tartan sophomore Gabrielle West (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) made back-to-back jumpers to give the visitor's the edge once again.

In the closing seconds of the half, the Judges Hannah Cain drained a three-pointer from the corner to knot the score at 30-30 heading into the break.  For the half, Brandeis shot 35.7% from the floor to the Tartans 30.6%.

Carnegie Mellon scored the first six points of the second half and claimed a 41-33 lead four minutes in following a trey by freshman Amanda McHenry (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville). The Tartans continued to have the hot hand building the lead to 46-33 with 12:57 to play.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Brandeis' Janelle Rodriguez cut the Tartans lead to 48-42 two minutes later, but Otto responded with back-to-back treys of her own giving Carnegie Mellon a 54-42 lead. Over the next 3:31, Brandeis used a 9-1 run to cut the deficit to 55-51 with six minutes to play, but that was as close as the Judges came with the Tartans holding on for the 65-60 victory.

Carnegie Mellon ended the game shooting 33.8% from the floor as Brandeis shot 35.6%. Junior Jacquie Shaw (Portland, Ore./Grant) was the only other Tartan to score in double figures besides Otto, as the junior finished with 12 points.  Senior Emily Peel (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) led all rebounders tying a season-high with 14 boards while the Tartans controlled the glass for the 13th straight game, hauling in 53 rebounds to the Judges 34.  Peel also dished out six assists in the win.    

Carnegie Mellon now heads to New York University where they will face the Violets on Sunday, January 13 at 2:00 p.m.