The Brandeis women’s basketball team left the University campus this weekend, travelling to Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University. A less successful weekend than the last one, the Judges won one game and lost one, resulting in an updated record of 12-7, 4-5 in the University Athletic Association. The team looks ahead to next weekend when they return home to play Washington University in St. Louis on Friday, and the University of Chicago on Sunday.

Judges 60, Carnegie Mellon 52

After the loss on Friday to Case Western, the Judges were able to pull out a very impressive win over UAA competitor Carnegie Mellon to improve their record to 12-7 overall and 4-5 in the UAA. After a slow first half, the Judges were able to outscore Carnegie Mellon 33-19 in the second half of play, after being down 33-27 at the half. 

The second half included guard Katie Goncalo ’20 leading the Judges in a 10-2 run, after the Tartans responded, scoring four points before forward Hannah Nicholson ’20 scored four points in a row, putting the Judges within one point of the Tartans. Guard Sarah Jaromin ’19 was then able to put the Judges ahead in the last three minutes of the third quarter, a lead that would last the rest of the game. With this 46-44 lead, the Judges went into the fourth quarter. The remarkable part of this quarter was the three-point shots that were scored by Goncalo, guard Kat Puda ’21 and guard Camila Casanueva ’21. These solidified the Judges’ victory.

The leader for scoring in the game was Nicholson , who scored 16 points at play. Goncalo also hit the double digits, scoring 10 points in the game, also being the athlete to play for the most amount of time for the Judges with 30 minutes of game time. 

Judges 70, Case Western 73

In a hard fought battle against UAA competitor Case Western,  the Judges were defeated in a tight battle on Friday evening. This led to a drop in the Brandeis women’s basketball record to 11-7 overall and 3-5 in the UAA. Following the Judges’ victory over Case Western at home the week before, when they only allowed 14 points to be scored in the second half of play, this game allowed for 36 points in the same time period, more than double the amount of points permitted to be scored. That being said, the Judges began the fourth quarter tied with a score of 51-51. However, in a three-and-a-half minute period in the quarters, Case Western scored 11 points, while the Judges scored nothing at all, strengthening the opponent’s lead. With the now 65-54 point lead for Case Western, the spartans would maintain a lead although the Judges closed the score gap throughout the rest of the game. 

Casanueva ’21 proved capable to lead the Judges during the game, scoring 16 points. Nicholson ’20 led the team with 11 rebounds over the course of the game. With 11 points scored over the course of the game, this is Nicholson’s third double-double of the season. Overall, this was a hard-fought battle, even though the Judges did not come out on top.

The Judges have been battling very hard this season. They have already matched the number of wins that they received in the entire 2016-17 season, both overall and in the UAA. Last year, the Judges ended the year with a 12-13 total record, 4-10 in the UAA. Hopefully as the Judges enter their last five games, they will be able to improve upon last year’s standings, both overall and in the UAA. 

Next weekend, the Judges hope to defeat Washington University in St. Louis at home on Friday, a team they already beat earlier in the season. Additionally, on Sunday, the Judges will battle against the University of Chicago, whom they lost to earlier on in the season. 

The Judges currently stand in fifth place in the UAA with five games left to play. These last five games are critical to improve their positioning in the UAA before the postseason begins.