Tartans Basketball Falls in First Game of the Caribbean Hoops Showdown

Dec. 20 – (CANCUN, Mexico) – Carnegie Mellon University’s women’s basketball team traveled to Cancun, Mexico for the Caribbean Hoops Showdown to face the University of La Verne in opening action. The Tartans put up a fight as the game was tied six times with the lead changing hands three times before ending with the Leopards 60-56 victory.

Twelve points in the paint and a shooting percentage of 44.8 in the first half helped the Leopards open a five-point half time lead. During the period, the Tartans shot just 27.3% from the floor but turned seven steals into seven points to stay close.

Junior Ashley Rothwell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Alvernia) scored eight of her 12 points in the first half while fellow junior Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) found her stroke from the behind the arc in the second half hitting four of her five treys, including the last one which brought the Tartans within two points with 10 seconds to play.

Aleski finished with 15 points and sophomore Paige Williamson (Washington, Pa./Trinity) chipped in 10 points in the loss. Junior Rachelle Roll (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) led the team on the boards with eight rebounds and contributed a game-high seven assists.

Points in the paint for the Leopards seemed to be the difference as they put in 24 to the Tartans eight.

The Tartans look to rebound in their second and final game of the Showdown on Friday against Concordia-Austin.