Tartans Cruise Past SUNY Canton at Marietta Jim Meagle Holiday Tournament

(MARIETTA, Ohio) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team cruised to a 77-35 victory against SUNY Canton on Sunday, December 29 at the Jim Meagle Holiday Tournament hosted by Marietta College. The Tartans are now 6-4 for the season.

Freshman Sophie Chao (Taipei, Taiwan / The SMIC Private School) and senior Laurel Pereira (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville North) led the Tartans with 11 points each with senior Cameron Pitts (Frederick, Md. / Oakdale) scoring a season-best 10 points. Chao's point total was a career best as well as her totals in assists and steals with four apiece. Sophomore Emily Archer (Chatham, N.J. / Oak Knoll) led with a season-best seven rebounds while Pereira picked up a career-best five steals.

A 29-3 second-quarter blitz by the Tartans separated the two opponents, propelling the Tartans to the 42-point win.

The 29 points in the second quarter was the most by the Tartans in a quarter this season. Carnegie Mellon shot 70.6%, making 12-of-17 attempts from the floor, including 4-of-7 from behind the arc. They tallied 11 assists in the quarter with sophomore Caitlyn Clendenin (Bethesda, Md. / Bethesda Chevy Chase) leading with three. The Tartans also caused eight turnovers by the Kangaroos who shot just 8.3% from the floor, making their first basket of the period with 1:13 remaining.

Clendenin tied her career-best in blocks with three for the game, all coming in the second quarter.

The Tartans made a season-high nine three-pointers in the game and held their third fourth opponent of the season to under 28% shooting from the field.

The Tartans will next face host Marietta (4-5) in the championship game of the Jim Meagle Holiday Tournament on Monday, December 30 at 3:00 p.m.