NYU Winning Streak Reaches 76
Tested throughout the first half, the undefeated and top-ranked New York University women's basketball team used a dominant third quarter to walk off with a 93-66 win over No. 8 Emory University in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest on Sunday at the John A. Paulson Center in Manhattan.
The Violets' (14-0, 3-0) 76th-straight win did not come easy, as the Eagles (11-3, 1-2) led early and only trailed 24-19 after the first quarter. Another tight second quarter had NYU leading by single digits, 41-32 at halftime.
But, then came a third quarter that solidified the victory. The Violets led by eight, 49-41, when they went on a 13-0 streak to create some distance.
After an Emory three-pointer, NYU closed out the quarter on a 12-0 run to end all doubt and finish the session with a more-than-comfortable 74-44 lead.
The Violets' advantage grew to a game-high 35 points, 93-58, on Caroline Peper's free throws with 2:07 remaining.
Peper finished with a game-high 25 points while adding five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Zahra Alexander (18), Brooke Batchelor (16) and Aila Kaibara also scored in double-figures.
"To be in a top-10 match-up and stack four quarters together the way we did, and to rely on our defense and play NYU basketball, makes me a really proud coach," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "We told them what the environment was gonna feel like, but they had to go out when the lights came on and actually perform, and they were absolutely outstanding today."
Yasmene Clark pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Violets, who shot 55.2 percent (32-of-58) from the field and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from three-point range.