The women’s basketball team dropped two out of three games to start 2015, falling to University of Massachusetts Boston and No. 9 New York University after beginning the year with a 79-65 win over Endicott College. The squad lost the two matchups at the UMass Boston 69-65 and 68-49 versus No. 9 NYU. The team’s record falls to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. 

On Saturday the Judges matched up against NYU for their University Athletic Association conference opener. NYU continued its undefeated campaign with a 19-point victory against the women. 

NYU went on a 10-2 run to start the game and to gain momentum that continued throughout four quarters. The Judges were able to keep the deficit to only 10 at the intermission on the back of a strong offensive performance from forward Tori Dobson ’16. 

Dobson matched her career-high in points with 10 and added three rebounds and two blocks. 

Also contributing off the bench was guard Paris Hodges ’17, scoring eight points along with three rebounds and a team-high three assists. Fellow guard Hannah Cain ’15 added seven points, six rebounds and two steals. 

The women’s greatest weakness in the game was their inability to pull in rebounds against their UAA rivals. The Judges were outrebounded 47-36 overall and 21-14 for offensive rebounds. 

Last Tuesday the squad lost a nail- biter on the road at UMass Boston in their final non-conference contest of the season. The close result was expected as the Judges were aware of UMass Boston’s tough interior game. Guard Niki Laskaris ’16 commented that the team “planned to play UMass Boston's post players tightly and force their guards to score.” 

The beginning of the game went the Judges’ way as they started on a 10-5 run thanks to back-to-back three- pointers by Laskaris. Laskaris did not score again but contributed with five rebounds and two assists. 

UMass Boston used a 15-5 run late in the first half, including, at one point, three straight threes, to tie the game at 30 a piece going into the halftime break. 

Much like in the first half, the Judges went on a run thanks to a string of three-pointers. This time it was guard Frankie Pinto ’17 who hit consecutive threes amid a 10-0 run. The momentum shift gave the squad a 44-37 lead with under 15 minutes left to play. 

UMass Boston used their own run, this one a 21-9 stretch with just over seven minutes remaining, to help take back the lead and the game. 

The contest was close until the end as the Judges held a one-point advantage with under a minute to play. UMass Boston was able hit a three to take back the lead with 39 seconds left on the clock. 

After Brandeis guard Sydney Sodine ’17 was only able to hit one out of two free throws on the next possession, UMass Boston was able to convert on its free throw opportunities at the other end of the court. 

A Judges’ turnover, their 22nd of the game, ended the tight game.  

The three-point line was instrumental in the Judges’ ability to stay in the game as they shot 44.4 percent from behind the arc. Laskaris was proud of the team even after a difficult result. She said that “[her] favorite characteristics of this year's squad are the level of commitment and grit. We give 110% every day." 

The women dominated in their first game back after the winter break against Endicott. It was led by center Olivia Shaw ’18 who scored a career-high 20 points in only her second collegiate start. 

Shaw also controlled the glass with eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end. 

Laskaris and Cain also helped on the offensive side of the ball with Laskaris scoring 13 points and Cain adding seven points and five assists. Sodine was a big presence on the defensive end with four steals. 

The game was all but over in the first half as the Judges outshot Endicott 56-29 percent from the field in the half. 

Laskaris and the rest of the team are confident going into the rest of the season. 

“[If] we continue working hard I expect the next few months to be very successful” Laskaris said. 

The women continue their UAA conference play on the road at Carnegie Mellon University on Friday night at 6 p.m.