Poor shooting doomed the team to a blowout loss Friday. Two days later, poor shooting didn't seem to matter.The women's basketball team shot only 26 percent from the field on its way to a 69-50 loss at Washington University in St. Louis Friday, two days before the Judges overcame 31 percent shooting to upset No.1 ranked host University of Chicago 57-48.

Brandeis is now 14-3 overall and 4-3 in the University Athletic Association.

"We weren't intimidated [by Chicago's ranking] coming into the game," point guard Kiersten Holgash '08 said. "We definitely had confidence in ourselves today."

Brandeis was the first opponent to hold Chicago under 50 points this season, and the Maroons shot a season- low 27 percent from the field.

Center Caitlin Malcolm '07, who had registered single-digit point totals in five consecutive games coming in Sunday, had a game-high 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds and five assists.

Rookie guard Carmella Breslin '10 was the unsung hero for the Judges. With 11 minutes, 14 seconds left in the second half, Breslin hit her first three-pointer to put Brandeis ahead 33-31. Over the next seven minutes, she contributed a season-high 11 points, hitting three shots from beyond the arc. Breslin had seen just 95 total minutes of playing time this season coming into the game.

"The turning point was when [Breslin] came into the game," Capra said. "She really sparked our offense."

The Maroons closed to within three points with 37 seconds left in the game, but the Judges shot hit all six of their free throws in the game's final 33 seconds to ice the victory.

Brandeis successfully neutralized Chicago's bench, allowing the Maroons' reserves only 10 points. Chicago shot just 50 percent from the free-throw line.

"I think we had a case of the bad touch," Chicago Coach Aaron Rousell told WHPK 88.5FM, the University of Chicago station. "We fell into a few playground things on offense. We were trying to be aggressive and trying to attack, but it didn't work out as planned."

The Wash U game was characterized by abysmal shooting from the Judges, especially in the second half. Brandeis did not score a field goal for the first 13 minutes after the break, as the team shot 12 percent from the field and just 2-16 from three point-range in the half.

"I think we didn't make adjustments," Breslin said. "We definitely played stagnant."

The Bears were far from stagnant, opening the second half by hitting their first nine shots; the team didn't miss a field goal attempt for the first 11 minutes after the break.

Capra was the lone Brandeis player in double figures with 13 points.

While Sunday's win keeps Brandeis competitive in the thick of the UAA, the team's recent offensive troubles cannot be overlooked.

Excessive three-point attempts and a departure from pounding the ball inside seem to be part of the problem for the Judges. Against Chicago, the Judges went 4-22 from beyond the arc, and against Wash U Brandeis was 5-21.

"We're having a hard time getting it inside because with [Malcolm] on the inside, teams double and triple team her before she even gets the ball," Capra said. "We take the easy way out sometimes and just shoot threes."

Malcolm, the team's two-time All-UAA suffered offensively against Wash U with just eight points, but this game Malcolm reverted back to her familiar overarching shot in the paint, on which she has built her reputation.

The Judges will face the Maroons again Friday at 6 p.m., this time at home. They will also have a rematch with Wash U Sunday at home at 2 p.m.