NYU Holds Off Chicago; Remain Undefeated with 82-76 Win
New York University's top-ranked women's basketball team moved to 24-0 and 13-0 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with an 82-76 victory at the University of Chicago on Sunday.
The Violets, who clinched their third consecutive UAA title on Friday in St. Louis, were led by a combined 56 points from Morgan Morrison, Natalie Bruns and Caroline Peper.
Morrison finished with 24 points (10-of-14 FG), Bruns 17 (8-of-13 FG), and Peper 15 (3-of-5 3PT) as NYU continued its best-ever start to a season in program history.
The Violets trailed 11-8 with just under four minutes left in the opening quarter, but closed the frame on a 13-2 run to take a 21-13 advantage into the second.
Erica Miller's trey gave NYU a 15-point-lead (31-16) with 7:07 left in the first half, but Chicago controlled the offensive glass to win the second quarter and cut its deficit to seven (38-31) at the break.
Morrison scored 10 points in the third as the Violets dominated the paint after intermission and extended their lead to 11, 61-50, entering the fourth.
The Maroons held NYU to 5-of-12 shooting in the final period and kept it close, coming within five (77-72) after scoring off of a turnover with 36 seconds to play. But, the Violets went 5-of-6 from the stripe in the closing stages to hold off any late comeback.
Bruns dominated the paint in this one, adding eight blocks, seven boards, three assists and two steals to her 17 points. Peper contributed four rebounds, three assists and two steals to go with her 15 points.
Megan Bauman finished with nine points, five boards, a team-high four assists and a steal.