Chicago’s Strong Shooting Dooms Women’s Basketball

Feb. 1 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The University of Chicago women’s basketball team defeated the host Carnegie Mellon University Tartans 84-53 on Friday night in University Athletic Association (UAA) action. Chicago shot lights out in the first half and picked up their defensive intensity in the second half to improve their record to 13-4 overall and 3-3 in the UAA. Carnegie Mellon drops to 7-10 overall and 0-6 in the UAA.

Chicago made their first seven shots en route to jumping out to a 17-2 lead at the 15:20 mark in the first half. The Tartans calmed down and started executing their offense and used a 16-4 spurt to cut their deficit to 21-18 midway through the first half. Junior guard Colleen Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Saint John Vianny) scored seven points during the run, including a three-pointer to cut the Maroon lead to three. Chicago scored the next 13 points to lead 34-18 and for the remainder of the half the teams played even basketball with Chicago taking a 46-31 lead into the break. Sophomore forward Molly Hackney led Chicago with 13 points in the first half, connecting on all six of her shots. The Maroons shot 66.7% from the floor in the first half.

The Tartans, with only nine healthy players, had trouble making baskets in the second half but a lay-up from senior forward Leah Feola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Canevin Catholic) narrowed the score to 62-44. Chicago reeled off 11 straight points to lead by 29 with 8:03 remaining. The Maroons would lead by as much as 34, but a three-pointer from junior point guard Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) with under a minute to go ended the scoring and gave the Maroons the 31-point victory.

Light finished with a season-high 18 points to lead Carnegie Mellon. Aleski added 16 points (off four three-pointers) and five assists in the loss. Junior forward Rachelle Roll (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) led the Tartans with nine rebounds.

Eleven players scored for the Maroons with Hackney’s 17 points leading the way. Chicago sophomore forward Jill DiNucci and junior guard Alex Leach each chipped in with 12 points. Maroon sophomore guard Jamie Stinson dished out 10 assists and senior forward Nicaya Rapier pulled down 11 rebounds. Chicago shot 55.4% from the field for the game whereas the Tartans ended at 30.4%.

The Carnegie Mellon women’s basketball team will play again on Sunday, February 3 when they host Washington (Mo.) University in Skibo Gymnasium. The game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.