Late Three-Pointers by Emory Down Tartans

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team had a promising start after freshman Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean) won the tip-off against Emory University Friday evening at Skibo Gymnasium, but dropped another game to the Eagles, 87-76, in the second half of University Athletic Association play.

Senior guard Jacquie Shaw (Portland, Ore./Grant ) scored the first six points of the game for the Tartans (11-10, 2-8) as they went up on the Eagles 6-2.

The Eagles (16-5, 5-5) took their first lead 12-10 via a trey by Marissa Resnick before Murphy scored a crucial layup to tie the game at 14-14 with 12:18 left in the first half.  The Tartans and Eagles would trade hoops before Emory held the advantage for eight minutes until sophomore Lindsay Poss (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) hit two free throws with a minute to go to give the Tartans a 40-39 halftime lead.

Neither team led by more than six points in the second half until Emory closed the final four minutes with three straight from behind the arc and 6-of-8 from the line to win 87-76.

Despite shooting 45.3% for the game, the Tartans couldn't overcome the Eagles eight three-pointers in the second half and 12 for the game as the visitors shot 43% from long range.

Murphy led the Tartans with 28 points and 13 rebounds while sophomore Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, 10 of which came in the first half. Poss and Shaw also tallied double figures in points with 16 and 13, respectively, while senior Jennifer Elkin (Reisterstown, Md./Carver Center for Arts & Tech) tied her career-high with six points. Shaw and Otto also dished out six assists apiece.

The Eagles were led by Savannah Morgan's 20 points and Shellie Kaniut's 15 points.

The Tartans will be returning to action at home on Sunday, February 16 to play the University of Rochester at 2:00 p.m.