Murphy Sets NCAA Record in 81-73 Victory Against La Roche

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat La Roche College, 81-73, Monday evening at Skibo Gymnasium. The Tartans were led by junior Lisa Murphy's (McLean, Va./McLean) career-high 37 points on 16-of-16 shooting from the field. The Tartans are now 5-0 on the season while the Redhawks drop to 2-2.

Murphy's performance from the field set a new NCAA Division III record for consecutive field goals made in a game, surpassing 15 by Frostburg State University's Shannon Rexrode in 1999. Murphy has now hit 18 shots in a row and ties the NCAA Division III record for consecutive field goals made in a season with Alia Fischer of Washington University (1998) and Anjee Beard of Baldwin Wallace (2000).

La Roche hit 13 of its first 19 shots and forced the Tartans into seven turnovers to build a 33-16 first quarter lead. Murphy kept the Tartans in the game by scoring 17 points, as the Tartans trailed 45-35 at the break.

The Tartans erased the 10-point deficit in the first four minutes of the second half with a 16-0 run. Junior Lindsay Poss's (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) three-pointer three minutes into the half gave the Tartans their first lead since midway through the first quarter.

TiChina Mitchell pulled the Redhawks within one point with 4:09 to go in the third quarter but that was as close as the visitors would come, as the Tartans answered with a 6-0 run and then twice scored after La Roche got within two to end the quarter and begin the fourth.

The Tartans finished the game shooting 53.3% from the field as the Redhawks cooled off and shot 41.2% from the field. The Tartans also moved the ball, assisting on 25 of 32 made baskets with junior Jackie Hudepohl (Saratoga, Calif./Lynbrook) leading with seven.

Next to Murphy's 37, Poss finished with 21 points and senior Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) tallied 10. Hudepohl grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

La Roche was led by Sabrina McLin's 24 points and Mitchell's 19.

The Tartans will next host Oberlin College on Saturday, December 5 at 2:00 p.m. in Skibo Gymnasium.