NEW YORK -- With a 57-42 victory over host New York University Friday evening, the second-ranked University of Chicago women's basketball team captured its second straight University Athletic Association championship and an automatic berth in the 2012 NCAA Division III tournament.

Chicago (23-0 overall, 12-0 UAA), which won its 41st consecutive regular season contest, became the third school in the UAA's 25-year history to claim back-to-back league titles.

Game Summary

• Chicago never trailed in the contest.
  
  
• Seniors Taylor Simpson and Bryanne Halfhill each scored six points in the game's first 12 minutes as the Maroons built a 19-11 lead.
  
  
• NYU (10-13, 2-10) rallied to close the gap to 25-23 at halftime.
  
  
• Chicago opened the second stanza with a 7-0 run.
  
  
• Freshman Morgan Donovan's layup at the 10:26 mark gave the Maroons their largest lead of the night, 41-28. Chicago led by at least seven points the rest of the way.

Statistical Highlights

• Simpson finished the night with 15 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Seven of her eight boards came on the offensive end.
  
  
• Halfhill and senior Meghan Herrick each scored 12 points. Herrick also pulled down eight rebounds.
  
  
• The Maroons collected assists on 18 of their 22 field goals.
  
  
• No NYU player reached double digits. Makenzie Hirz and Melissa Peng each tallied nine points.

Notes

• Chicago's UAA title is the fourth in the program's history and third in the past five years under Head Coach Aaron Roussell.
  
  
• The Maroons remained one of four undefeated teams in the NCAA Division III.
  
  
• Chicago's 41-game regular season winning streak is the longest current streak in the NCAA Division III.
  
  
• Chicago extended its UAA winning streak to 26 games.
  
  
• The Maroons recorded their sixth straight win over NYU and third in a row in Manhattan.
  
  
• Chicago won for the 51st straight occasion when leading at halftime.
  
  
• Halfhill had three steals to become the fifth player in school history to collect 200 in a career.
  
  
• NYU's 42 points were the fewest allowed by Chicago in a UAA game since Jan. 21, 2011 (Chicago 71, Brandeis 38).

Up Next

• The Maroons play their final regular season road game Sunday at Brandeis University. Tip-off in Boston is set for 2 p.m. (ET).