Box Score Case Western Reserve University senior guard/ forward Hillary Hellmann scored a team-high 19 points, and freshman guard Abbey Lawrence added 14 off the bench, but it was not enough for the Spartans, who fell to the New York University Violets 83-72 in New York, New York on Friday night.
The loss drops the Spartans to 12-9 on the season, while NYU improved to 12-8. The result also moved both team's University Athletic Association records to 4-6 for the season with four conference games remaining on the schedule.
Hellmann shot eight-of-23 overall and two-of-eight from behind the three-point line, while adding team-highs with eight rebounds and four steals on Friday. Lawrence shot four-of-nine overall and two-of-five from behind the arc. Graduate student forward Kara Hageman added 11 points and seven rebounds in the game to round out the Spartans' double-digit scorers.
CWRU took the early lead on Friday, going ahead by as many as five points in the opening quarter after a jumper by junior guard Kendall McConico put the Spartans in front 7-2 by the 6:52 mark. The Spartans continued to lead until NYU went ahead 12-11 on a jumper with 3:06 left in the period. NYU's Katie Foos went on to knock down three three-pointers over the remainder of the first period, scoring 15 points alone during the first 10 minutes of action, and despite a late three by Lawrence, the Spartans trailed 24-17 at the end of the opening quarter.
The second quarter started with a fast pace, as the two teams exchanged baskets on eight-straight possessions over a near three minute stretch, but the Violets maintained a seven-point lead, 32-25, with 6:22 remaining in the period. CWRU shot 61.5% (eight-of-13) during the second quarter but NYU would lead by as many as eight points, before the Spartans would get back within a point, 35-34, with 2:53 remaining after a three by Lawrence and a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Emma Cain. NYU increased its lead to five points again, before a jumper by junior guard Alicia Marie Gonzales and a layup by McConico pulled CWRU back within a point, 39-38. However, a late three by the Violets gave NYU a 42-38 lead at halftime.
NYU built a nine-point lead in the third, but a layup by Hageman and a three by senior Hellmann pulled CWRU back to within four points with 3:19 to go, 53-49. NYU regained a nine point lead in the closing minute, and a three by Hellmann with seven seconds left in the third trimmed the lead to six, before a half-court three at the buzzer by NYU's Janean Cuffee extended the Violets' lead back to nine heading into the fourth, 63-54. The Violets would pull away in the final period, leading by as many as 14 during the frame and holding a double-digit lead for the majority of the period. CWRU made a late run, cutting the Violets' lead down to eight points in the final minute after a three by freshman guard Alyssa Hyland and a layup off an offensive rebound by Gonzales, but NYU would eventually close out the 11 point victory.
CWRU shot 41.0% overall in the game, but struggled uncharacteristically from behind the three-point, hitting just 22.2% (six-of-27) of its long range shots. The Spartans also hit 16-of-17 free throw attempts in the game, good for a 94.1% mark.
Cuffee led the Violets with 24 points in the game, while Foos added 20 points in the contest. Annie Barrett finished with a double-double, collecting 10 rebounds and 10 assists for NYU on Friday.
The Spartans will be back in action on Sunday, February 10th with their final road game of the 2018-19 season against Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
