NEW YORK -- New York University recorded its biggest victory of the season so far on Friday night, defeating No. 7 Emory 77-71 at the Coles Sports Center.
"Emory is one of the best teams in the country and they have three very good senior players who know how to win," head coach Lauren Hall-Gregory said. "We knew they were going to go on runs, we just had to be able to weather those runs."
NYU (14-1, 3-1 University Athletic Association) was led by freshman guard Kaitlyn Read, who poured in a career-high 26 points to lead all scorers. She also pulled down nine rebounds and dished out five assists.
"Kaitlyn is just a winner; a competitor," Hall-Gregory said. "She doesn't act like a freshman or play like a freshman. She's such a great asset to the team."
The Violets and Eagles (14-1, 3-1 UAA) traded the lead back and forth six times and were knotted up another five times. In the end, NYU took its final lead of the contest with 2:14 remaining.
Emory was able to battle back from a nine-point deficit with a barage of 3-point baskets midway through the second half, but the Violets maintained control and came away with the crucial victory.
"We;re off to a good start in the UAA, but we know how tough it is," Hall-Gregory said. "We need to stay humble, but be confident. It's a good combination."
No. 2 Washington (Mo.) 71, Case Western Reserve 37
CLEVELAND -- Second-ranked Washington (Mo.) shot 44 percent from the field and limited Case Western Reserve to a season-low 25.8 percent shooting as the Bears rolled to a 71-37 win against the Spartans in University Athletic Association (UAA) action on Friday night.
Washington finished 28 of 64 (43.8 percent) from the field in the game and 11 of 13 (84.6 percent) at the free-throw line. Case shot just 25.8 percent (16 of 62) from the field, including 1 of 16 from 3-point range, and was 4 of 4 at the free-throw line. The Bears finished with a 36-16 advantage in points in the paint, and outrebounded the Spartans 47-36.
Melissa Gilkey and Jordann Rettig combined to score the first 14 points of the game for the Bears. Gilkey finished with a game-high 17 points and four rebounds, while Rettig had eight points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Alyssa Johanson also scored in double figures for Washington, finishing with 13 points and equaling her season high of six rebounds off the bench. Steph Vukotic added a season-high eight points and five rebounds, while Jordan Thompson recorded seven points, two assists and a career-high two blocked shots.
No. 3 Whitman 78, Lewis & Clark 61
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- It surfaced again on Friday, a trend that has colored more and more Whitman victories as the Northwest Conference schedule reaches midseason boil.
The Missionaries are putting teams away with depth.
And with each victory and signature knockout run therein, it becomes more and more fair -- and fun, for the Missionaries -- to contemplate whether their bench could contend for a conference playoff spot on its own.
"They would tell you, 'Yes,'" said Whitman head coach Michelle Ferenz, after her third-ranked charges remained undefeated by subduing Lewis & Clark 78-61 in front of a raucous Sherwood Center crowd. "I like that about them."
Five Whitman (17-0, 8-0) players scored in double figures: TIffani Traver (17 points on 5-of-8 3-point shooting), Sarah Anderegg (16), Meghan White (11 points, nine rebounds), and Heather Johns and Alysse Ketner (10 points apiece).
