Women’s Basketball End Four Game Skid With 89-69 Victory

Dec. 30 – (WESTERVILLE, Ohio) – Sophomore’s Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) and Jeanette Schilling (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) led the Carnegie Mellon women’s basketball team to an 89-69 victory over Lynchburg College in the consolation game of the 27th-annual Otterbein Smokey Ballenger Classic Saturday, December 30. The win ended the Tartans four game losing streak. With the win the Tartans move to 5-4, while the Hornets drop to 2-5.

After trailing 6-0, Aleski knotted the score at 10-10 on a jumper from the top of the key with 14:23 to play in the first stanza. The Tartan lead didn’t last long, as freshman Dana Esposito converted on a jumper on the Hornets ensuing possession giving them the lead back 12-10.

Carnegie Mellon would take their first lead of the afternoon when senior Ashley Mazziotta (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) took a pass from Aleski and hit a trey giving the Tartans a 22-20 lead with 8:28 on the clock. Just as the Tartans seemed to be in control the Hornets went on a 12-2 run over the next five minutes giving them the 32-24 advantage.

The Tartans would stand tough scoring 13 of the last 17 points of the half, the last coming with one tic on the clock as Schilling took a pass from sophomore forward Ashley Rothwell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Alvernia) and scored the lay-up to give the Tartans the 37-36 lead heading into the locker room.

After two ties and five lead changes in the second half the Tartans would gain the lead for good (57-65) with 8:37 left in regulation off a jumper by senior Nora Darcher (Naselle, Wash.). Darcher’s jumper sparked a 14-0 run for the Tartans as they went on to the 89-69 victory.

Aleski led the charge for the Tartans scoring a career-high 29 points while dishing out six assists and converting five steals. Aleski was named to the All-Tournament team. Schilling recorded career high numbers tallying her first career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Also in double figures for the Tartans were sophomore guard Colleen Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Saint John Vianney) and Rothwell with 14 and 12, respectively. Rothwell grabbed nine rebounds as well.

After shooting 37.5% from the floor in the first half the Tartans were 18-of-32 (56%) in the second half finishing the game shooting 46%. For the sixth time this season Carnegie Mellon out rebounded their opponent after hauling in 40 to the Hornets 35.

Next for the Tartans will be Westminster College as the Titans enter Skibo Gymnasium Tuesday evening, January 2. The tip is set for 6:00 p.m.