Murphy Records Ninth Double-Double in Loss at Brandeis

(WALTHAM, Mass.) – The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team was in University Athletic Association (UAA) action on Sunday, February 9 at Brandeis University. The Judges of Brandeis defeated the Tartans 65-56 as Carnegie Mellon is now 11-9, 2-7 while Brandeis moves to 12-8, 6-3.

Foul shooting kept Carnegie Mellon in the game, as the Tartans made two of its first 21 field goals and trailed 17-15 with 6:46 to play in the half. During the stretch, the visitors converted 10-of-11 from the line, as sophomore Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn.) converted all six attempts and freshman Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean) was 4-of-5.

Over the next four minutes, Brandeis used a 10-4 run to take its largest lead of the half at 27-19.  Carnegie Mellon closed the gap to two points, but Brandeis' Paris Hodges hit a three-pointer with three seconds reaming in the half as the home team took a 32-27 advantage into the locker room.

Carnegie Mellon ended the half shooting 6-of-29 for 20.7% while the Judges shot 9-of-27 for 33.3%.  The Tartans converted 14-of-17 from the line in the first half and Brandeis was 9-of-13.

The Tartans took their first lead of the game, 35-34, on a pair of foul shots by Otto with 17:21 on the clock in the second half, but the lead was short lived.  On the Judges next possession, Samantha Mancinelli connected on a long ball that started a span of seven straight points for Brandeis and gave them a 41-35 lead.

Carnegie Mellon would knot the score at 46-46 on a jumper in the lane by senior Jacquie Shaw (Portland, Ore./Grant) with 12 minutes to play, but were unable to regain the lead the rest of the way.  Brandeis closed out the game on an 11-2 run over the last 3:28 to win 65-56.

Carnegie Mellon finished the game shooting 26.2% from the floor while Brandeis shot 33.3% and outrebounded the Tartans 50-39.  Murphy led the Tartans with her ninth double-double of the season and sixth in UAA play with 16 points and 13 rebounds.  Shaw and Otto each finished with 10 points in the setback.

Kasey Dean and Maria Jackson both had 12 points to lead Brandeis in scoring.

Carnegie Mellon will continue UAA play on Friday, February 14 when they entertain Emory University at 6:00 p.m.