Tartans Tripped Up at Home, Fall to Brandeis 58-55

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team dropped a close contest with Brandeis University, 58-55, on Sunday, February 2. Senior Jacquie Shaw (Portland, Ore./Grant) led the Tartans with 18 points as the team fell to 11-7 on the year and 2-5 in the University Athletic Association.

Shaw scored her 18th point on a layup with 1:51 left to bring the Tartans within one, 56-55, but the home squad was unable to capitalize on the three missed opportunities by the Judges (10-8, 4-3) to retake the lead in the closing minute. The Judges then hit two free throws to hold a three-point edge and a game-tying shot by sophomore Lindsay Poss (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) fell short resulting in the win by the Judges.

The Judges held a 20-13 lead in the first period after a 10-1 run but the Tartans answered with a 9-0 blitz to take back the lead on a three-pointer by junior Chandler Caufield (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) with 5:42 to go.

After two scoring possessions by Brandeis, Shaw hit back-to-back three-pointers and two free throws to put the Tartans ahead 30-24, where they would hold a 30-27 lead at the break.

Brandeis went to work on the offensive glass in the second half, hauling down 11 boards and turning them into 10 points for the half.

The Tartans led by as many as five points late in the game after sophomore Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) made a layup with 6:15 to go but the Judges would tie the score for the 8th time with a 5-0 run and later took the lead for good on a free throw by Paris Hodges with 3:23 to play.

Following Shaw's game-high 18 points was freshman Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean) who scored 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Poss led the Tartans with 10 rebounds as Otto finished with nine points.

Maria Jackson led the Judges with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The Tartans will take to the road to play #20 New York University on Friday, February 7 at 6:00 p.m. before meeting up with Brandeis again on Sunday, February 9 at 2:00 p.m. in Waltham, Massachusetts.