The University of Redlands women's basketball faced its final deficit of the game with less than eight minutes to go in the first half and then rode an 11-point halftime lead to a 63-41 victory over the visiting Spartans of Aurora University (IL) earlier tonight in Currier Gym.

On the heels of junior guard Mariah Barbetti-Cort's (Ventura, CA) solid double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds, the Bulldogs battled through a 35% field-goal performance en route to their fifth victory of the season and their fourth at home.

Down by one point midway through the first half, the Maroon and Gray unleashed a 16-6 run with Barbetti-Cort pouring in 11 of her 15 first-half points, resulting in a 33-24 advantage at the break.

From here it was all Bulldogs, as they maintained a double-digit lead through the final whistle.

With the help of solid defense by senior forward Mackenzie Smith (Hoquiam, WA), who racked up six blocks in 19 minutes of action, Redlands held the Spartans to a measly 21.7% performance from the field.

The Bulldogs also controlled the boards with 56 total rebounds, compared to 36 by Aurora. This included nine more on the offensive end for the Maroon and Gray.

Junior forward Courtney Carroll (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA) contributed 17 points and eight rebounds.

Aurora (2-8) gained a team-leading 15 points from senior guard Ashley Daniels, who converted all nine of her free-throw attempts while adding four assists and three steals.

Redlands (5-4) takes on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) in the 7:30 p.m. game of tomorrow's Bulldog doubleheader. The men face off against Whitman College (WA) at 5 p.m. in Currier Gym.