WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University sophomore Katie Goncalo (Fall River, Mass./Tabor Academy) scored 19 of her career-high 21 points in the second half tonight as the Judges defeated visiting Case Western Reserve, 63-42, in a University Athletic Association contest in Red Auerbach Arena. With the win, the Judges snap a three-game skid and improve to 10-6 overall, 2-4 in the UAA. CWRU falls to 3-13, 0-6 UAA.
With the game tied at 28-28 after the half, Brandeis's defense came out strong in the third quarter. The Judges held Case Western Reserve without a field goal until the final minute of the period, outscoring the Spartans, 17-8. Goncalo accounted for 13 of the Judges' 17 points in the stanza.
Brandeis was even stronger in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors, 18-6, and missing just one shot as they went 7-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line. For the second straight quarter, Goncalo was equal to the opponent's entire roster, scoring six points in the fourth. For the half, Brandeis outshot Case Western Reserve 60 percent (12-20) to 17 percent (5-29). The Judges also outrebounded the Spartans, 20-9, in the final 20 minutes of play.
Goncalo led all players with her career-high 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor, 2-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-5 from the line. Her 19 points in the second half eclipsed the entire CWRU roster by five and represented the Judges' best single-game performance all by itself.
Sophomore Hannah Nicholson (Sundeland, Vt./Burr and Burton Academy) was the only other Brandeis player to score in double digits with 10 points on a perfect shooting night, hitting 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line. Junior Joelle MarkAnthony (Wallingford, Conn./Sheehan) led all players with eight rebounds, one shy of her career-best. Three of the boards came on the offensive glass. Senior Eva Hart (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) had nine points and a game- and career-high six assists as the Judges totaled 15 helpers on 23 baskets. Brandeis outrebounded Case Western Reserve, 44-29 for the game, with seven different players recording between three and five boards.
Case Western Reserve had two players score in double digits, led by junior Hillary Hellman's (Lakeside Park, Kent./Notre Dame Academy) 15 points. Hellman helped keep the Spartans in the game in the first half with 13 points, but was held to just two in the second on 1-of-6 from the field. Rookie Jasmine Floyd (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) added 14 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Floyd hit 6-of-6 from the floor with two 3-pointers. Rookie Emily Todd (Bethesda, Md./ St. Andrew's Episcopal) had three assists and three steals, while Hellman, rookie Rebecca Rowlands (Clinton, N.J./Rutgers Prep) and junior Alexis Amburgey (Ada, Ohio/Ada) each had five rebounds to pace the Spartans.
Brandeis will close out the first half of UAA play on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Carnegie Mellon. Case is at NYU at the same time for a league contest. These two teams will meet again in one week in Cleveland.