No. 21 UChicago Holds Off Carnegie Mellon on Senior Day
The 21
st-ranked University of Chicago women's basketball team led from start to finish Sunday afternoon, earning a 57-51 victory over Carnegie Mellon University on Senior Day at the Ratner Center.
UChicago set the tone early as Annabelle Spotts opened the scoring with two free throws, and baskets from Alexis Clark and Spotts helped build an early four-point advantage. A fast-break three-pointer from Kate Gross and a late layup by Bri Simpson pushed the Maroons ahead 13-8 after one quarter, with all the momentum.
The lead continued to grow early in the second behind UChicago's defensive pressure. Simpson scored on consecutive back-to-back drives to the paint as Gross added another layup, and Zora Burrell finished inside to give the Maroons a double-digit cushion. The Tartans tried to push back, but a bucket from Chris Sanders in the closing seconds sent UChicago into halftime with a nine-point lead.
Carnegie Mellon trimmed the deficit to six in the third quarter, but Spotts responded, drilling a three from the left side to push back. The Tartans found some energy on offense, holding the Maroons' lead to six for most of the third, but UChicago closed out on a strong point. With 34 seconds remaining, Burrell found a way to the rim to push the lead back to eight. Heading into the final period, the Maroons held all the momentum.
The Tartans made one final push in the fourth, before Kasi Samuda scored on three straight possessions, including an and-one play. A minute later, Gross connected from three to extend the lead back to double digits and help seal the win for the Maroons.
Spotts led UChicago with 18 points on 6 for 10 on shooting and an almost perfect 5 for 6 from the free-throw line. Gross added 12 points. Samuda totaled eight points and eight rebounds, and Clark grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Maroons improved to 16-5 overall and 8-3 in UAA play.