Tartans Drop UAA Contest at #19 Chicago

(CHICAGO, Ill.) – The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team continued University Athletic Association (UAA) play at 19th-ranked University of Chicago on Sunday and fell by the score of 57-45. The Tartans are now 10-8 and 1-6 in UAA play, as the Maroons move to 14-4 and 5-2.

Junior Laurel Pereira (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) was the lone Tartan to score in double figures with 14 points. The junior tied a season-best connecting on three from behind the arc. Senior Jenn Mayberger (Chesterfield, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) tied a career-high with five steals. Mayberger also handed out a game-high four assists and scored seven points.

Miranda Burt led Chicago with 16 points and was 5-of-8 from behind the arc. Mia Farrell scored 10 points for the Maroons.

A three-point basket by Pereira at the four-minute mark of the first quarter cut the Tartans deficit to 9-8, but the Maroons closed the quarter scoring 11 straight to lead 20-8 at the start of the second.

The Tartans scored the first six points of the second frame to chip into the Maroons lead. Chicago responded scoring the next eight including back-to-back three-point baskets by Burt, as the junior finished the second 10 minutes with three triples to help the home team take a 33-19 lead into the break.

In an even played third quarter, Chicago's lead never dipped below double figures and the Maroons held a 43-30 lead at quarters end. Freshman Caitlyn Clendenin (Bethesda, Md./Bethesda Chevy Chase) scored five points and grabbed three rebounds in the frame to lead the Tartans.

A free throw by freshman Leah Weslock (Howell, Mich.) with 5:50 to play cut the deficit to 49-40, but Chicago was fast to push the lead back to double figures. The Maroons scored the next six points and went on for the 57-45 win.

Carnegie Mellon will return to the court with a home contest against Washington University in St. Louis on Friday, February 1 at 6:00 p.m.