Tartans' Buzzer-Beater Attempt Falls Short in 71-68 Loss to Case

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team narrowly forced overtime against Case Western Reserve University but a three-point attempt by the home squad fell short and Case won the rivarly match-up 71-68 on Saturday, March 1 to close out the season for both squads. The Tartans finish the year at 12-13 and 3-11 while the Spartans finish 10-15 and 4-10.

The Tartans jumped out to a 15-8 lead after a jumper by senior Jennifer Elkin (Reisterstown, Md./Carver Center for Arts & Tech) six minutes into the game. Seven minutes later the Tartans were clinging to a one-point lead, 23-22, after a free throw by sophomore Liza Otto (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury).

The Spartans than rattled off nine straight points to lead 31-23 with 3:31 to go in the half and held on to a seven-point lead at the break, 36-29, after Julie Mooney connected on a layup at the buzzer.

Both teams shot 40% for the half but the Spartans led on the glass 23-19.

Tartan sophomore Lindsay Poss (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) opened the second period with a trey and the team battled back to even, 42-42, after a 7-0 run behind two layups by freshman Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean) and a three-pointer by junior Chandler Caufield (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny). Both of Murphy's layins were assisted by Otto who finished with three assists.

Senior Jacquie Shaw (Portland, Ore./Grant) gave the Tartans their first lead since the first half on a layup with 12:21 to go, making the score 46-44.

The teams traded hoops for the remainder of the game with the lead changing hands nine times before Case led by six points with 25 seconds to play.

Otto then drained a three-pointer with eight seconds to play giving the Tartans life but after a missed free throw by Case, Otto's game-tying shot attempt at the buzzer was just short, hitting off the front iron.

Shaw finished with 20 points, tying her season high, to lead the Tartans' offense. Murphy and Otto each tallied a double-double, with Murphy pouring in 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds and Otto 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Case was led by Jessica McCoy's 19 points, as she hit five of the Spartans' season-high 11 three-pointers.