Clutch Fourth Quarter Sends UChicago Women's Basketball Back to Elite Eight for First Time Since 2011
The 17th-ranked University of Chicago women's basketball team is headed to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history after earning the come-from-behind win past seventh-ranked Hope College, 55–52, on Friday evening in the round of 16 at the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.
UChicago improves to 20–7 on the season and advances to the sectional finals for the first time since 2011.
Hope held the early edge, taking a 15–14 lead after the first quarter before building on the margin in the second. The Flying Dutch used a huge second-quarter surge to push their lead to double digits. UChicago trailed 28–20 at the break after being held to just two field goals in the second quarter.
The Flying Dutch continued to pressure the Maroons early in the third, stretching their lead to as many as 16 points with just over seven minutes remaining in the third. UChicago responded with its most important run of the night to put the Maroons back within arms reach.
Kate Gross knocked down a three-pointer midway through the quarter to spark the comeback, and UChicago gradually chipped away at the deficit. Annabelle Spotts connected, for her first make of the game, from beyond the arc to bring the Maroons within 10. As UChicago found its offensive rhythm, Kasi Samuda followed with a putback layup and Alexis Clark capped the surge by scoring off an offensive rebound. Heading into the final quarter, Hope led by five.
UChicago pushed early in the final period. Caroline Workman buried a huge three-pointer less than 20 seconds into the quarter, and Gross followed with a pull-up jumper that made it a one-possession game. After the Flying Dutch briefly took the lead back to four, the Maroons delivered clutch moments down the stretch. Spotts drilled a three-pointer to bring UChicago within one at 45–44, setting up a dramatic finish with less than three minutes remaining.
Just over a minute later, Gross delivered the go-ahead three to give the Maroons their first lead since the final seconds of the opening quarter. Hope managed to tie the game at 49, but Spotts answered with a fadeaway jumper in the lane with 37 seconds left to put UChicago back in front.
In the next play, the Maroons' tight defense forced the Flying Dutch to turn the ball over as Spotts came up with the steal. The momentum of the arena swung decisively toward the Maroons.
Chris Sanders stepped to the line and calmly converted four free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory. Hope hit a three to bring the deficit back to one, but Sanders capitalized on another pair at the charity strip to secure the win.
Gross led the Maroons with a season-high 17 points and six rebounds. Samuda recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds, as Spotts contributed 11 points and nine rebounds, including a few pivotal moments in the closing minutes. UChicago's defense held Hope to 29.8 percent shooting from the field.
With the win, the Maroons advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III tournament for just the second time in program history and the first since 2011.