The women's basketball team's offensive strategy hasn't been enough to crack the defensive armor of Washington University in St. Louis this season. The Judges fell 51-45 Sunday, posting a season-low scoring total, after their previous low came in a 69-50 loss to the Bears Jan. 26. After squeaking by No. 13 University of Chicago 52-50 Friday, the Judges are now 15-4 overall and 5-4 in University Athletic Association play. Guard Jaime Capra '08 was the lone Brandeis player to score in double digits, finishing with 16 points and 9 rebounds.

"[Capra] is always a go-to player," forward Cassidy Dadaos '10 said.

"We all feel really safe when she has the ball in her hands. She takes clutch shots when we need her to."

Capra hit a key three-pointer with 2 minutes, 10 seconds left to play in the game to give the Judges a 45-41 lead, but Brandeis was held scoreless for the rest of the game as players struggled to sink three-pointers.

The Bears' defensive approach consisted of keeping three or four players in the paint and letting the Judges launch uncontested three-point shots.

Brandeis went 1-10 from three-point range in the first half, and 1-4 from beyond the arc after the break, during which coach Carol Simon urged the team to cut down on outside shooting.

"We have one of the best post players in the country on our team in [Caitlin] Malcolm ['07], and we need to get her the ball inside," Dadaos said.

The Judges' offense ran more smoothly in the second half when they cut to the basket and drew more fouls. Malcolm had all six of her points after halftime and also finished with nine rebounds, four assists, five steals and three turnovers.

Malcolm has been facing a steady diet of double and triple teams in the paint, which may explain the boost in her recent assist numbers.

"[Malcolm] might not be scoring 18 or 20 a game like [Capra], but her assists really help us out," Dadaos said.

Much like in their previous game against Wash U, Brandeis had trouble containing the Bears' post players, as sophomore forward Jaime McFarlin had her second double-double against the Judges with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

"At only 5'11", McFarlin elevates like no other," Dadaos said.

"You think you have good position on her, and she'll square up and shoot over you."

Chicago and the Judges tussled in a game with multiple lead changes and scoring runs Friday.

Brandeis jumped to an early 10-2 lead in the first half, but was then held to one point over seven minutes before going into the break with a 24-23 advantage.

The Judges opened the second half on a 15-2 run followed by a 19-2 spurt by the Maroons. Brandeis eventually iced the game with sharp free-throw shooting late.

Capra led the Judges with 11 points and also had four rebounds and three assists. Captain Ali Chase '07 added 10 points and five rebounds, while Malcolm finished with eight points, six rebounds and four assists.

Brandeis again became infatuated with the three-point shot in the second half, hoisting 11 and sinking three.

"We were taking too many shots from the perimeter," Simon said.

"[The Maroons] were taking away our inside game."

For their second straight meeting with the Maroons, the Judges clamped down on the UAA's leading scorer, junior guard Nofi Mojidi. While Mojidi averages 17.6 points per game, she scored just seven Friday.

The Judges play two more UAA home games this week, facing Carnegie Mellon University Friday at 6 p.m. and the University of Rochester Sunday at 2 p.m.