Women’s Basketball Falls to Bears

Feb. 16 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon women’s basketball team fell to the #11 ranked Washington (Mo.) University Bears 72-55 on Friday, February 16 at Skibo Gymnasium. The loss drops the Tartans’ record to 8-15 overall and 2-10 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) while Wash U improves to 18-5 overall and 10-2 in the UAA.

In the first half the Tartans opened up a 14-9 lead with 13:44 remaining in the first half before the Bears reeled off 13 straight points to take an eight point lead. The lead increased to 11 for Wash U before the Tartans made the last basket of the half. Sophomore forward Jeanette Schilling (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) stole the ball, brought it up the court, and passed it over to junior forward Leah Feola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Canevin Catholic), who was able to lay the ball in, sending the Tartans into halftime trailing 33-24.

The Bears built upon their lead in the second half going up by as many as 26 points before Carnegie Mellon ended the game on a 12-3 run highlighted by thre-pointers from freshman guard Paige Williamson (Washington, Pa./Trinity High) and Feola.

Feola led the Tartans with 16 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) added 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the loss. Sophomore Jill Brandt led Wash U with 13 points and sophomore Jaimie McFarlin added 11 in the win. Senior Rebecca Parker contributed 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Carnegie Mellon shot 33% from the floor compared to Wash U’s 46% and the Tartans committed 21 turnovers while the Bears turned the ball over 16 times.

The Tartans will play again on Sunday, February 18 at home against #22 University of Chicago in what will be senior day. The game is scheduled to start at 2 pm.