Tartans Return to Court with 73-53 Win Against Wittenberg

Tartans Return to Court with 73-53 Win Against Wittenberg

(MARIETTA, Ohio) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team returned from Thanksgiving break to travel to Marietta College for the 33rd Annual Jim Meagle Turkey Shoot sponsored by BSN Sports on Saturday, November 25. The Tartans faced Wittenberg University and defeated the Tigers, 73-53, for their fourth straight 20-point win. The Tartans are now 4-0 while the Tigers are 2-2.

The Tartans were led by sophomore Makayla Filiere (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) who tied three career-highs with 22 points, eight rebounds, and four made three-pointers while she shot 66.7% from the floor. Fellow sophomore Laurel Pereira (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) scored 17 points, sophomore Katharine Higgins (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) chipped in 12 points and freshman Victoria Avery (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd) reached double digits for the first time with 10 points.

The Tartans hit the ground running with a 21-6 first quarter advantage. The Tartans shot 50.0% in the first quarter and caused three turnovers on the first three Tiger possessions. An 8-0 run over the first three minutes of action was followed by a 9-6 run until the 2:31 mark of the period before the Tartans closed the quarter with four straight points ending with a three-pointer by Higgins.

The next three quarters were played fairly evenly with the Tartans maintaining their double-digit lead throughout the game. The Tartans first led by 20 points when Filiere drained her third three-pointer with 1:14 to play in the first half. The largest lead of the game came with 3:50 remaining when junior Gabby Yanai (Glendale, Calif./Glendale) hit a jumper after a steal by freshman Elle Schaefer (Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central). A three-pointer by Yanai with 1:42 to go gave the Tartans a 24-point lead once again before Wittenberg scored the final four points of the game.

The Tartans shot 40.0% for the game, marking the third time this season the team shot 40% or better. The Tartans also held their fourth opponent to a shooting percentage under .300, as the Tigers finished with a percentage of .288 for the game.

Sophomore Jenn Mayberger (Chesterfield, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) moved into fifth all-time on the Tartan assist list when she dished out six assists. The junior captain also picked up a season-best four steals to go with five rebounds. Mayberger is currently averaging 5.5 assists a game and has had six or more in the last three games.

The Tartans continue play at Marietta on Sunday, November 26 at 1:00 p.m. against Denison University (3-2).