Tartans Open Season with 70-59 Win

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Carnegie Mellon University junior Emily Peel (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) and sophomore Jacquie Shaw (Portland, Ore./Grant) each had career nights in the women's basketball season opener to lead the Tartans to a 70-59 victory against Elmira College in the DoubleTree Carnegie Mellon Tournament Friday night. With the win, the Tartans start 1-0 for the second time in three years as Elmira falls to 0-2 on the season.

The Tartans made their first two shots on the evening to lead 4-0 before Elmira went on a 16-6 run over seven minutes to lead 16-10 at the 11:41 mark. Shaw then scored five straight to fuel a 12-3 run where sophomore Jennifer Elkin (Baltimore, Md./Carver Center for Arts & Tech) hit a three-pointer and freshman Gabrielle West (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) knocked down a jumper after assisting on Eklin's three to give the Tartans a 20-19 advantage and a lead they never relinquished.

Carnegie Mellon finished the half hitting 50% from the field, scoring 16 points in the paint and seven after offensive rebounds to lead 32-26.

The Tartans lead was cut to four, 36-32, with 16:27 to go when Elmira's Alex Balara followed Maria Thannhauser's three-pointer with a foul shot. Peel then took over, scoring six straight to increase the home team's advantage to double-digits.

Jessica Zoltowski did her best to bring the Soaring Eagles back as she scored eight over a two-minute span but Peel and Shaw remained just as hot from the field to keep the Tartans on the winning track. Shaw scored 12 of her career-high 24 points in the last 6:53 and the defense held Elmira to five made baskets in 15 attempts during the same time to finish with the 70-59 win.

Peel followed Shaw's 24 points with a career-tying 21 points. Both recorded double-doubles as Peel tied a career-high with 13 rebounds and Shaw pulled down a career-high 11 boards. Together they shot 68% from the floor and 78.5% from the free throw line. Shaw added four assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

Senior Jennifer Larsen (Exeter, N.H./Exeter) shot 5-of-6 from the floor for 12 points as West finished with eight points and six assists. The Tartans ended the game scoring 36 points in the paint and assisting on 18 baskets.

Zoltowski scored a game-high 28 points for the Soaring Eagles as Balara finished with 13 and four assists.

Carnegie Mellon will next take on #13 University of Mount Union on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The Purple Raiders won their tournament opener 55-49 over Case Western Reserve University to move to 2-0 on the season.