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Brandeis University's Community Newspaper — Waltham, Mass.

Women’s basketball dry spell continues

Published: February 11, 2011
Section: Sports


In a rematch against Rochester, Brandeis guard Mia DePalo ’11 led all Brandeis players with 14 points including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc; however, DePalo’s hot shooting was not enough to pull away from the Rochester Yellowjackets as Rochester used two large runs, one in each half, to run away with an 80-51 victory. With the loss, Brandeis falls to 10-10 (2-7 University Athletic Association (UAA)) and Rochester improves to 16-4 (6-3 UAA).

In the two games against Rochester this year, DePalo averaged 17.5 points per game and hit 9-of-11 from beyond the arc. Guard Morgan Kendrew ’12 added 11 points with six coming in the first half. Sophomore Samantha Anderson topped the team with five rebounds. But no other Brandeis player had more than three rebounds as the Judges went on to lose the rebounding battle 35-23, tying their lowest deficit of the season.

Rochester had three starters in double figures, including Melissa Alwardt who topped all players with 16 points. Alwardt shot 6-of-12 overall and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Kristyn Wright added 12 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and Jodie Luther scored eight of her 10 points in the first half. Rochester outshot Brandeis 49.1 percent to 39.1 percent.

The Judges started the game hot, hitting 6-of-8 to open an early 13-6 lead. That lead had increased to 22-17 with 8:24 left in the first half. At this point, however, Rochester went on a 22-2 run to end the half and take a 39-24 lead into the locker room.

Early in the second half, the Judges managed to stay in the game, never trailing by more than 12. With 11 minutes left in the second half, the Judges had cut Rochester’s lead to 51-42. Rochester would go on to score 16 of the game’s next 18 points, however, to put the game away completely.

Earlier in the week, Brandeis fell to Emory 72-55 despite 16 points from guard Kendrew. Freshman Julia Scanlon and senior Amber Strodthoff each contributed eight points for the Judges. Strodthoff also led Brandeis with five rebounds and DePalo finished with a game-high five assists.

Kendrew scored 10 of her 16 points in the first half as the Judges led by as many as seven points at 17-10 after a Kendrew jumper with 9:19 remaining in the first half. Brandeis was still ahead by five points at 27-22 with just more than three minutes remaining in the first half after Kendrew hit a pair of free throws; however, Emory would proceed to go on an 8-2 run to take a 30-29 lead into the half.

Brandeis shot 46 percent for the half while holding Emory to 30 percent shooting including 3-of-13 from beyond the arc, but Emory enjoyed a 9-4 edge at the free throw line.

In the second half, Emory became red-hot, shooting 71.4 percent (15-21) and missing only six shots. With 14:43 left in the second half, Emory led the Judges 38-36, but Emory would go on to score the next seven points making it a nine-point game at 45-36 with 12:22 left in the second half.

Samantha Anderson ’13 converted a three-point play in an attempt to halt Emory’s momentum but Emory immediately responded with a three-pointer.

Brandeis was still in the game with little more than seven minutes to play after a jumper by Scanlon cut Emory’s lead to 55-45. Emory responded, however, by making the next five shots, including two from downtown, to pull away with the game.

Despite winning the rebounding battle by 24 in their first meeting, Brandeis lost the rebounding battle by five, 35-30 in the loss.

Becca Feldman contributed 14 points for Emory off the bench, while Hannah Lily had 13 points and Courtney Von Stein and Misha Jackson each had 11 points. Feldman and Von Stein each had three three-pointers for Emory. Danielle Landry finished with a game-high eight rebounds, while Jackson added seven of her own. Melissa Koike and Selena Castillo each had three assists, and Koike and Landry each had three assists.

Brandeis will host Carnegie Mellon University on Friday and Case Western Reserve University on Sunday, while Rochester will host University of Chicago and Washington University (Miss.) on the same days respectively.