Strong Fourth Quarter Lifts Tartans Past Judges

(WALTHAM, Mass.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team traveled to Brandeis University on Friday night and came away with a 67-58 University Athletic Association (UAA) victory after outscoring the Judges 23-9 in the fourth quarter. The Tartans are now 11-10 overall and 2-8 in UAA play while the Judges move to 7-13, 3-7.

Junior Makayla Filiere (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) led the Tartans with a season-high 23 points and converted 4-of-6 from long range. She now has 950 points for her career and ranks 13th on the school's all-time list. Her four triples also marked a season-best. Freshman Leah Weslock (Howell, Mich.) ended the game with 16 points and classmate Emily Archer (Chatham, N.J./Oak Knoll) finished with 10 points. Senior Jenn Mayberger (Chesterfield, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) handed out five assists in the win.

Brandeis was led by Camila Casanueva with 12 points while Lauren Rubinstein finished with 11.

With the score tied at 7-7, a three-pointer by Filiere and a baseline jumper by junior Megan Jaeb (San Jose, Calif./Presentation) gave the Tartans a 12-7 lead with 3:02 to play in the first quarter. Carnegie Mellon was held without a points the rest of the quarter while the Judges scored the last five as the close of the quarter saw 12-12 on the scoreboard.

Carnegie Mellon mated its largest lead of the first half when Filiere drained her second triple of the game with 3:32 left in the second quarter which made the score 23-18. Brandeis then used a 10-4 run and took a 28-27 lead into the locker room.

The Judges opened the third quarter scoring the first six points to grab a 34-27 advantage. Three minutes later back-to-back treys by Filiere tied the score at 37-37 with 5:25 on the clock. Brandeis answered and used an 8-2 run before taking a 49-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

After Brandeis scored the opening bucket of the fourth, Carnegie Mellon used a 9-2 run to knot the score at 53-53 at the 6:36 mark of the frame. A layup by junior Katie Higgins (Montclair, N.J.) gave the Tartans a 57-56 lead before Brandeis regained the lead on its next possession, 58-57, with five minutes to play. Carnegie Mellon then scored 10 straight points including converting 5-of-6 fouls shots in the closing minute for the win.

Carnegie Mellon will travel to New York for a 1:00 p.m. contest against the Violets of NYU on Sunday, February 10.