Murphy Sets Block Record in Setback at Brandeis

(WALTHAM, Mass.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team played at Brandeis University Friday, February 13 in University Athletic Association (UAA) action. Both teams entered the contest with identical overall records, as the Judges defeated the Tartans 59-44 despite a UAA and school record 10 blocks by Tartan sophomore Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean). The loss drops Carnegie Mellon's record to 11-10, 2-8 and Brandeis moves to 12-9, 4-6.

A rough start shooting for both teams left the score 5-4 Brandeis five minutes into the game, as each team shot 1-of-9 from the floor. Carnegie Mellon continued its drought while the Judges scored 11 straight to claim a 16-4 lead with 9:29 to play in the first half. Five minutes later the Tartans cut the deficit to 17-13, thanks to six points from Murphy and a triple from junior Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn.).  
    
Brandeis responded and pushed its lead back to double figures (25-13) as Frankie Pinto connected on a pair of three-point baskets sandwiching a layup by Maria Jackson and then took a 27-18 advantage into the break. The Tartans finished the first 20 minutes of play shooting 17.9% (5-28) from the floor while the Judges shot 24.2% (9-33).
 
Freshman Zoe Zawisa (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) made the score 33-29 on a triple two minutes into the second half, but Brandeis once again answered and scored eight straight to extend the home team's lead to 41-29 at the midway point of the period.

The Tartans cut the lead to nine on two different occasions, but that was as close as the visitors got as Brandeis held on for the 59-44 win. Carnegie Mellon ended the contest shooting 24.6% from the floor as Brandeis finished shooting 30.2%

Murphy led all players with 18 points and nine rebounds to go with her 10 blocks. It marked Murphy's 10th double-double of the season. Junior Lindsay Poss (Poolesville, Md.) along with Otto ended with nine rebounds each.

Brandeis was led by 12 points from Pinto and Hannah Cain while Jackson finished with 11. Pinto, Jackson and Sydney Sodine each hauled down eight rebounds to lead the Judges.

The Tartans will travel to 12th-ranked New York University on Sunday, February 15. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m.