Clendenin's Double-Double Leads Tartans to Double-Digit Home Win

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - Four players scored in double figures and freshman Caitlyn Clendenin (Bethesda, Md. / Bethesda Chevy Chase) recorded a double-double to lead the Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team to a 68-54 home win against the University of Rochester on Friday, February 15. The Tartans advance to 12-11 for the season and 3-9 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) while the Yellowjackets drop to 9-14 and 3-9.

Clendenin finished the game with 16 points and 14 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. The freshman also dished out a career-best six assists, as the Tartans had a team-best 20 assists in a UAA game for the year. Joining Clendenin in double figures was junior Katie Higgins (Montclair, N.J. / Montclair) with 15 points, freshman Emily Archer (Chatham, N.J. / Oak Knoll) with 12 points, and freshman Leah Weslock (Howell, Mich. / Howell) with 10 points. Senior Jenn Mayberger (Chesterfield, Mo. / Cor Jesu Academy) also dished out six assists in the victory.

With the score knotted at 13 at the end of the first quarter, the Tartans used a 12-2 run to take a 25-15 lead four minutes in the second period. The Tartans hit their first three buckets prompting the Yellowjackets to call a timeout. The 10-point advantage reached 12 before Rochester cut it to five with a minute left. Weslock then hit her second triple of the half with 38 seconds to play to put the cushion at eight points at the break.

The Tartans shot 46.7% through the first 20 minutes while Rochester was held to 28.6%.

Despite bringing the deficit back to five points in the third period, the shooting woes continued for the Yellowjackets as they made just 5-of-19 from the floor. Six baskets was enough for the Tartans, who made the final three shots of the period to extend the lead back to 12 points.

The lead never got below double digits the remainder of the game and Clendenin scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds in the final frame to help solidify the win for the Cardinal and Gray.

Rochester was led by freshman Julianna Okoniewski's 18 points and 12 rebounds while sophomore Tessa Ludwick scored 14 and junior Lauren Foley contributed 12 points.

The Tartans will host their final game of the season on Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m. against Emory University (17-6, 8-4).