NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team could not overcome a slow first quarter today as the Judges dropped their 2016 University Athletic Association (UAA) opener at rival New York University, 57-46. With the loss, the Judges fall to 7-5, 0-1 in the UAA, while Violets, ranked #4 in Division III by D3hoops.com and #5 by the WBCA, improve to 11-0, 1-0 UAA.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Brandeis scored the first basket of the game, but NYU scored the game's next 12 points, bolstered by two Kaitlyn Read 3-pointers. The Judges' Maria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton)snapped the scoreless streak with 45 seconds left, but the Judges trailed 12-4 at the end of one period.
• The Judges played even with the Violets over the second and third quarters, with the second a 13-13 tie and the third even at 17-17.
• The closest Brandeis came to their hosts was just before halftime, when junior reserve guard Frankie Pinto (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente)  hit back-to-back trifectas to get within 22-17 with 20 seconds left in the second. The Violets' Amy Harioka responded with eight seconds remaining, giving NYU a 25-17 lead at the break.
• Junior Sydney Sodine (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) scored consecutive buckets early in the second half to get within 27-21, but that was as close as the Judges would get in the final 20 minutes.
• NYU led by as many as 18 in the fourth before Brandeis scored the last seven points of the game for the final 57-46 decision.

FOR BRANDEIS

• The Judges were led by their bench, which scored half of their points. Pinto was the team's high scorer, notching eight of her 11 points in the first half.
• Senior guard Heather Cain (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester) added 10 points in reserve, eight coming in the second half.
• Jackson led all players with nine points, while junior Kyla Gabriel (Tivoli, N.Y./Red Hook) paced the team with three assists, also off the bench.
• Brandeis was only the third team to hold NYU under 60 points this season.

FOR NYU

• Read led all players with 16 points, six assists and six steals. She also had five rebounds, third-most on the squad.
• Riley Wurtz added 11 points and Megan Dawe had 10 for the Violets.
• Lindey Oldshue and Mikaela Pyatt led the hosts with seven rebounds each.

UP NEXT

• Both squads continue UAA play next weekend, with the Judges meeting Rochester on Friday night at 6 p.m. and NYU taking on Emory at the same time.
• The teams will trade opponents on Sunday afternoon.
• NYU also has a non-conference meet-up with Hunter College on Monday at 5 p.m.