Two Record Double-Doubles in Season Sweep of Rochester

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team topped the University of Rochester on the road for the third straight time and swept the season series for the second time in three seasons with a 66-54 win Friday night. The Tartans improve to 11-10 overall and 5-7 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) while Rochester drops to 14-9 and 6-6.

The Tartans opened with the first two baskets of the game with a three-pointer by freshman Catherine Or (Los Angeles, Calif. / Marlborough School) and a layup by freshman Anisha Chintala (Austin, Texas / Westwood). Rochester then scored nine straight while the Tartans missed three shots and turned the ball over twice to see the home team lead 9-5.

The teams would trade baskets the remainder of the quarter with Rochester maintaining the lead throughout.

Carnegie Mellon opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to retake the lead at 25-23 before Rochester answered with a three-pointer by Alexis Sestric to hold a 26-25 advantage at 6:06 on the clock. Rochester would hold the lead until the last two minutes of the half when freshman Isha Nambisan (Fremont, Calif. / Mission San Jose) drained a triple with 1:53 left and Or finished the half scoring with a layup with 28 seconds left to take a 34-30 advantage into the break.

An 11-0 run that spanned nearly five minutes in the middle of the third quaret propelled the Tartans to a 13-point lead at 47-34.

Rochester cut into the deficit five points to trail by eight heading into the final period.

The Tartans would go up by 10 twice in the final quarter with Rochester getting as close as five points, 53-48, with 6:05 to play but a 6-0 run by the Cardinal and Gray gave them back a double-digit lead.

Senior Caitlyn Clendenin (Bethesda, Md. / Bethesda Chevy Chase) led all players with 20 points while Or finished with 17 and Nambisan with 13. Both Clendenin and Or recorded double-doubles for the fifth time this season with Clendenin grabbing 15 rebounds and Or grabbing 12. Clendenin and Chintala led the squad with five assists, the later achieving a career high.

The Tartans will next travel to Emory University for a 2:00 p.m. game on Sunday, February 20.