The women’s basketball team wrapped up its season on Feb. 25 with a victory over New York University, snapping a five game losing streak. The previous weekend, the Judges fell to Washington University in St. Louis 61-49 and to the University of Chicago 69-66. 

Judges 50, NYU 47

In her final collegiate game, guard Paris Hodges ’17 set a career high in points and steals with an impressive stat line of 25 points, seven rebounds and five steals. In a game in which she played all 40 minutes, Hodges shot 11-15 from the field, including two three-pointers. 

Other seniors contributed significantly in their last game in a Judges uniform. Guard Frankie Pinto ’17 added eight points off of two three-pointers of her own, and forward Maria Jackson ’17 scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds. As Jackson concludes her Brandeis career, she leaves the program with the fifth most rebounds in history. 

When Jackson converted on a bucket in the fourth quarter, the Judges were able to put away the Violets for good. NYU cut the lead to only three points with just under three minutes remaining. With the squad in danger of blowing the lead, Hodges came up in clutch as she hit a shot from behind the three-point arc. NYU remained scoreless from the field for the rest of the contest, as Brandeis ended its season on a high note. The squad swept NYU for the first time in four seasons, and  it ends the season with a University Athletic Association record of 4-10 and an overall record of 12-13. 

Judges 49, WashU 61

In the team’s last home game of the season on Feb. 19, it was not able to pull out the victory against the No. 7 team in the country. The Judges got off to a quick start, though, grabbing an 11-2 lead. Jackson did all she could to keep the squad in the game, scoring a game-high of 18 points, with an additional stat line of eight rebounds, three blocks and a noteworthy three steals. 

Forward Sydney Sodine ’17 also was big on the day, collecting nine rebounds, as well as seven points and two steals. Guard Noel Hodges ’18 acted as the facilitator of the afternoon, dropping a game-high seven dimes. Her sister Paris contributed six points, two steals, four assists and three rebounds. 

While the team ultimately fell to WashU by double digits, it was only down by one point with about five minutes remaining. The Judges’ defense then collapsed, allowing WashU to score seven straight points as they rolled to the victory. 

Judges 66, Chicago 69

In what became a back and forth game played at the Red Auerbach Arena on Feb. 17, the Judges were unable to come away with the victory. The team entered the fourth quarter down 49-47, and consequently tied up the game four separate times in the first four minutes without taking the lead. Paris Hodges gave the team their first lead of the fourth quarter with a crucial bucket. 

Chicago took back the lead with under five minutes to play, a lead they would not relinquish. The squad had a chance to tie it up again with 34 seconds remaining, as they were down by only three points. Paris Hodges had the look from behind the three-point arc that would have evened the game, but the shot ultimately did not drop in. At the buzzer Brandeis again missed another chance to tie up the game, this time as Jackson missed on a chuck from 30 feet.  

The Judges will look to regroup this off-season as they will need to replace five crucial senior players.  In rebuilding their core group of players, they will look to improve upon the 2016 to 2017 campaign with a winning record.