Strong Fourth Quarter Gives Tartans Season-Opening Win

(UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team opened the season with a 66-58 victory against Heidelberg University at the John Carroll University Tip Off on Friday, November 12. The game was the first for the Tartans since closing out the 2019-20 season with a victory against Case Western Reserve University on February 29. Four of five starters scored in double figures Friday night with freshman Anisha Chintala (Austin, Texas / Westwood) leading the team with 16 points.

Heidelberg held a slim 28-27 halftime lead after jumping out to an 18-12 first-quarter advantage before the Tartans outscored the Knights 15-10 in the second quarter. Senior Leah Weslock (Howell, Mich. / Howell) hit both of her three-pointers in the second quarter to lead the Tartans back from a 21-12 deficit.

A 6-0 run to start the third quarter put the Tartans in the lead, one they held until Heidelberg hit a jumper with 3:05 showing on the clock to tie the game at 37-37. The teams traded baskets the remainder of the quarter with the score knotted at 41-all heading into the fourth frame.

Weslock twice broke a tie in the fourth quarter with baskets, as her layup off an assist from senior Caitlyn Clendenin (Bethesda, Md. / Bethesda Chevy Chase) gave the Tartans the lead for good at 51-49 with 6:25 to play. Freshman Catherine Or (Los Angeles, Calif. / Marlborough School) was 3-for-3 from the free throw line and had seven points in the fourth quarter while Chintala scored eight in the final period including two free throws in the last minute to help seal the win.

Clendenin recorded her 10th career double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds and tied for the team lead in assists for the game with three. Weslock finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Or tallied 14 points in her collegiate debut.

The Tartans will return to play on Saturday against John Carroll at 3:00 p.m.