CHICAGO – Senior guard Evy Iacono (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) tallied a game-high 19 points as the Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team opened the second half of its University Athletic Association schedule with a 76-71 overtime victory versus the University of Chicago on Friday evening inside the Ratner Center.

The Spartans (13-6, 5-3 UAA) have won three-straight contests and return to action this Sunday, February 3 versus No. 12 nationally-ranked Washington University-St. Louis at 2:00 p.m CDT. With the loss, the Maroons fall to 6-13 and 2-6 in the UAA.

In addition to Iacono, who tied for the team high with eight rebounds, sophomore forward Berit Eppard (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore guard Brooke Orcutt (Morrison, Colo./Dakota Ridge) and senior guard Erica Iafelice (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

In the first half, the Spartans built an early 6-2 lead when Eppard converted a lay-up at the 17:25 mark. The Maroons answered with a 4-0 run to knot the contest at 6-6. Over the ensuing minutes, the teams exchanged baskets and the game was tied, 23-23, with 6:32 remaining in the opening stanza.

However, the visitors reeled off an 8-2 run over the next two minutes highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Iafelice and a fast break jumper from Orcutt giving Case its largest advantage of the first half, 31-25. But, the hosts slowly chipped away as the Spartan advantage stood at just one, 33-32, headed into the halftime break.

In the second, the Spartans tallied the opening four points of the half before Chicago manufactured a 5-0 run and tied the contest, 37-37, with 16:39 left. Undaunted, Case slowly pulled away and possessed a five-point lead, 51-45, via an "old-fashioned" three-point play with 9:37 left. Not done yet, Chicago worked its way back and took a one-point lead, 54-53, with just under six minutes left via a pair of free throws from Paige Womack.

In the final minute, Chicago's Julie Muguira canned a three-pointer from the left wing with 23 seconds left giving the hosts a 64-63 lead. On the ensuing Case possession, Iacono was fouled and knocked down 1-of-2 free throws. However, Chicago was unable to convert either of its two charity tosses with three seconds showing on the clock, and the game went to overtime.

In the extra session, the Maroons gained a one-point edge, 69-68, on a free throw from Morgan Donovan. On the next possession, Orcutt converted a lay-up and gave Case the lead. After Chicago turned it over on the next trip down the floor, Eppard was fouled and calmly sank both charity tosses to seal the win. 

For the game, Chicago was led by Womack with 15 points and Caitlin Moore with 12 points and 11 boards.

Following Sunday's game versus Washington-St. Louis, the Spartans head back home to the friendly confines of Horsburgh Gymnasium next Friday, February 8 for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off with New York University. The game is designated as a Play4Kay contest as the Spartan women will don pink uniforms, and all proceeds will go to benefit the Women's Basketball Coaches Association charity of choice, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.