Fourth Quarter Run by #22 Chicago Upends Tartans at Home

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team hosted No. 22 University of Chicago on Friday evening for a University Athletic Association (UAA) matchup. The Tartans climbed back from a 19-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter but an end-of-game run by the Maroons spoiled the comeback and the Tartans fell, 82-62. The Tartans are now 9-6 and 1-3 in the UAA while the Maroons move to 13-2 and 4-0.

Sophomore Makayla Filiere (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) led all scorers with 27 points after hitting 5-of-9 from three-point range, including 4-of-4 in the third quarter. Sophomore Laurel Pereira (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) tallied 13 points while sophomore Katharine Higgins (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) had 11 points. Freshman Kylie Huffman (California, Pa./Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic), who returned to the court for the first time since November 29, grabbed six rebounds in 10 minutes of action. Fellow freshman Victoria Avery (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd) collected six rebounds while junior Jenn Mayberger (Chesterfield, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) picked up a season-best eight assists.

Neither team was on point in the first quarter which finished with the Maroons ahead 12-11. After the Maroons made just 2-of-8 from long range in the first quarter, they pounded the ball inside and converted 7-of-12 while making 7-of-10 from the free throw line to outscore the Tartans 24-11 for the second frame.

The Tartans, who shot 26.7% in the first half, returned to the court after halftime and shot 63.2% with 5-of-6 made from behind the arc. Filiere led the Tartans for the quarter, scoring 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the field. She also picked off three Maroon passes, scored three layups off those steals, and assisted on two buckets for the quarter. The third stanza closed with a 9-2 run by the Tartans with Filiere hitting the last three-pointer with three seconds left.

The Tartans started the fourth quarter with the ball and scored four straight to tie the game at 56-56 after a jumper in the lane by Filiere 50 seconds into the final period.

The Maroons answered on their next possession with an offensive board and score and went on a 13-3 run to go back up by double-digits with 4:55 to play and never looked back.

Obi Olariche led the Maroons with 20 points, 10 rebounds, six steals, five assists, and three blocks. Mia Farrell scored 17 points while Marissa Igunbor put in 15 and Taylor Lake scored 14.

The Tartans will be back in action at home against Washington University in St. Louis (11-4, 2-2) on Sunday, January 21 at 2 p.m.