NEW YORK -- Taylor Simpson scored a career-high 25 points and collected 13 rebounds as the 16th-ranked University of Chicago women's basketball team defeated University Athletic Association rival New York University 87-81 Sunday afternoon at the Coles Sports Center.

Chicago's win -- its ninth straight -- coupled with Case Western Reserve University's 82-73 loss at the University of Rochester leaves the Maroons (13-3 overall, 5-0 UAA) alone in first place in the UAA standings.

Meghan Herrick scored 10 points of her 17 points in the game's first 20 minutes as the Maroons opened up a 43-38 lead following a first half that featured six lead changes and one tie. Herrick reached double figures for the 11th consecutive game.

Chicago maintained the advantage throughout the second half. NYU (8-8, 2-3) pulled to within a point, 51-50, on Tana Bertino's three-pointer at the 15:13 mark.

A Simpson layup with 10:08 to go increased the Maroons' edge to five points, 63-58. Chicago took its first double-digit lead in the game's final minute on a pair of foul shots from Joann Torres.

Simpson hit 11 of 15 shots from the field en route to her seventh double-double of the season and fourth in her last five games.

Morgan Herrick added 14 points for the Maroons.

NYU's Maggie Ely matched Simpson for game-high scoring honors with 25 points. Chelsea Blake contributed 14 points off the bench.