Murphy's Double-Double Leads Tartans to 4-0 Start

(MEADVILLE, Pa.) - Freshman Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean) had a career night leading the Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team to an 83-72 victory on the road at Allegheny College Thursday, November 21. Murphy not only registered her first career double-double, she did so with career highs of 36 points and 21 rebounds.

Both teams entered the contest with a 3-0 record, as the Tartans prevailed for the fourth time this year. Carnegie Mellon also outrebounded its opponent by more than 10 for the third time this year.

Murphy's night didn't start like it would end up with 36 points to her name as she missed her first three shots. But the freshman post player quickly recovered and finished the first half making eight straight from the field to go with two free throws for 18 points and 10 rebounds at the break.

Joining Murphy with double-digit points was senior Jacquie Shaw (Portland, Ore./Grant) and sophomore Lindsay Poss (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville). Shaw dropped in 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Poss tallied 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Poss also grabbed eight rebounds while sophomore Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) was just ahead of her with nine rebounds.

A three-pointer by freshman Sade Idera (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) seven minutes into the game gave the Tartans their first double-digit lead at 18-8. A two-minute stretch midway through the first half saw the Tartans score on five straight possessions with Murphy accounting for four baskets and a free throw which pushed the Cardinal and Gray lead to 14 points, 31-17.

Sixteen points off turnovers and 11 second-chance points helped the Tartans hold a 10-point lead at the break. It wasn't until the final two minutes that the Gators were able to pull within single digits, as they could only get as close as seven before the Tartans put in four free throws down the stretch to go on to the 83-72 victory.

The Tartans defensive effort was strong as it held the Gators to a season-low 26.9% shooting effort and grabbed 43 defensive boards, nearly matching the Gators total of 45 on the glass.

In the end, points in the paint is what mattered for the Tartans as they scored 50 to the Gators' 18.

Allegheny was led by Rachel Vigliotti's 18 points and Kendall Hoffman's double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Murphy's 36 points was the most scored by a Tartan since Emily Peel scored 33 against Brandeis University on February 5, 2012.

The Tartans will return home for a Sunday matinee against Thiel College on November 24 at 2:00 p.m.