The women's basketball team extended its record-breaking winning streak to 16 as the Judges defeated the nationally ranked UAA foe New York University at Red Auerbach Arena on Saturday, while also continuing their season long climb up the Division III national rankings.Following victories against MIT and Carnegie Mellon, the win produced one of the biggest upsets of the season as the then seventh-ranked Judges routed the then No. 4 Violets 79-65. The win rocketed the Judges to a No. 3 ranking in the d3hoops.com poll released last night, while NYU fell to No. 10

The win again pushed the school record for consecutive wins to 16 and improved the Judges' undefeated record to 12 wins, with three in the UAA.

"I think we're just really confident, we really believe in one another," captain Catherine Brady '05 said. "We're always just really mentally prepared to play people and I think that shows in our composure. We come out on top because we know what we have to do and we get it done."

"We're really a team that takes it game by game," Simon said. "We really emphasize to [the players] that you can't look ahead because the moment you look ahead, you forget about the team you're supposed to be playing."

Five players scored in double figures for the Judges as forward Caitlin Malcolm '07 paced the team with 16 points while Christine Clancy '06 recorded 14 and Jaime Capra '08 added 12 points. Malcolm also paced the team on the boards with a game high nine rebounds while Capra recorded eight boards and Clancy grabbed six.

The game was close throughout the first half but the Judges started to pull away from NYU and with just under 10 minutes left in the game.

Both teams started the second half strong as the game reopened with an onslaught of three-point shots. The Violets quickly hit four three-pointers early on to cut the lead to five with 13 minutes to play, but Brady responded with a pair of threes while Cassie Loftus '08 and Clancy each hit one.

The Judges were able to silence NYU with just under 10 minutes left in the game as Clancy hit another three that gave the Judges a 57-43 advantage.

While NYU trailed the Judges for most of the contest, the Violets opened the game up with a 7-5 lead over the Judges. NYU's short-lived lead was answered with a game-changing 14-5 run over the next six minutes to give the Judges control of the scoreboard as they led 19-12 midway through the first half.

The first half remained close as the Judges led by only nine points going into the break.

"I know we're going to get our points offensively as long as defensively we're good and that was the key to beating NYU," Simon said. "You just have to be strong, you have to be physical, you can't let down and you have to be able to keep them off the boards."

Before their big win over the Violets, the team traveled to Cambridge to take on the Engineers of M.I.T. on Jan. 12. The Judges easily ousted the Engineers 81-24 as all 12 players on the Brandeis roster scored. The Judges never trailed as they went into halftime with a commanding 35-9 lead. Both Malcolm and Clancy led the Judges on offense with 14 points apiece while Basia Gryzb '07 dished out a game high four assists. Clancy and captain Emily Malkin '05 paced the team with five rebounds each.

Before trouncing the Engineers, The team played host to Carnegie Mellon on Jan. 9 in their second UAA game of the season. While the Tartans put up a good fight, the Judges came away victorious, 77-60. Four starters scored in double figures as the Judges established a new school record for consecutive wins.

Malcolm again led the team with 15 points, making seven of nine shots from the foul line. Capra added 12 points and Brady recorded 11. Malcolm also paced the team in boards, grabbing a game-high seven as Clancy finished with six rebounds and Brady had four steals.

"Defensively we were really good against dribble penetration and the posts but they were really good shooters," Malkin said. "We weren't getting out to the shooters as well as we should have been, but we still came out with the [win]."

Although the team is undefeated, ranked No. 4 in the nation and has broken the school record for consecutive wins, their accomplishments do not seem to faze them. This is a highly talented team that is focused on accomplishing its goals.

"I don't think we ever go into games with the records or the rankings [on our minds], Brady said. For us every team is the same. A win is a win and we're just looking to go out, get things done and do what we have to do and just be successful, just work hard."

The Judges have been consistently successful throughout the season, and the team's recent success has come in spite of some injuries.

Before the winter vacation many of the Judges' post players were injured, forcing the team into a four-guard offensive system.

Now that many of the injured players are healthy Simon and her team have the versatility and size they were missing before.

"It's nice that we can go big and stay big, that's important," Simon said. "Even at the beginning of the year when we only had two healthy posts, just putting one in at a time, there just wasn't a continuity offensively. We just weren't smoot. We're just better when we're bigger and stronger."

The Judges look to extend their winning streak and complete their undefeated regional run as they head to Medford to take on nearby rival Tufts University tonight at 7 p.m.

With league play continuing, Brandeis has a chance to solidify its postseason positions.

The team visits Case Western Reserve University on Friday at 6 p.m. before travelling to Atlanta to play Emory University on Sunday at 3 p.m.