CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Brandeis University rattled off seven straight points in the fourth quarter, creating enough of a cushion as it held on to defeat the MIT women's basketball team, 67-59, on Saturday afternoon.
Olivia Joseph led all players with a career-high 19 points and added six rebounds for the Engineers while Abby Kennedy paced the Judges with 14 points.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Brandeis 67, MIT 59
- Records: MIT (3-7 Overall); Brandeis (9-1 Overall)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Brandeis opened the game with eight unanswered points, but MIT battled back as it came within one point on four occasions, the last at 16-15 on Ruth Lanouette's fastbreak layup with 3:27 on the clock. Almost 30 seconds later, Kennedy drained a floating jumper that kicked off a 7-0 run. Joseph ended the Engineers' scoring drought on a put-back with 21 seconds to go, making the score 23-17.
- The second quarter was a balanced affair with both teams generating 12 points as a jumper by Lanouette narrowed the gap to 35-29 heading into halftime.
- Baskets by Kennedy and Maya Williams opened the third quarter for the Judges. However, a jumper by Riley O'Sullivan sparked a 15-5 run that knotted the game at 44 at the 3:37 mark. Brandeis countered with an 8-2 run down the stretch with Jazzy Perez accounting for six points.
- MIT stayed close in the fourth quarter as two free throws by Mary Lobon narrowed the gap to 58-52 with 6:46 left to play. Katherine Vaughan knocked down a jumper during the Judges' next possession, leading to their pivotal seven-point run that spanned three minutes.
- The Engineers replied with their own string of seven unanswered points as Lanouette buried a three-pointer and a jumper while Francesca Garfi drained a layup, trimming the deficit to 65-59 with two minutes to go.
- Brandeis went on to secure the win courtesy of a basket by Sofia Berisha just 31 seconds later.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lanouette finished with 14 points and two steals as Lobon totaled 10 rebounds and five assists.
- Perez posted 11 points, followed by 10 from Vaughan.
- Elena Delicado led the Judges with 10 rebounds as Williams grabbed six.
- Saviah Shabazz rounded out the visitors with six assists and three steals.
UP NEXT:
- MIT returns to action on Friday, January 2 when it hosts UC Santa Cruz at 1:00 PM.
- Brandeis resumes play on Tuesday, January 6 at Wheaton College at 6:00 PM.
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