Case Western Reserve University junior guard/ forward Isabella Mills scored a game-high 21 points, and sophomore forward Kayla Characklis finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, but the Spartans ultimately suffered a hard-fought 75-63 loss to the ninth-ranked New York University Violets at Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday.

The loss dropped the Spartans to 7-14 overall on the season with a 2-8 record in the University Athletic Association, while NYU improved to 18-1 overall and to 9-1 in league play.

Mills made six-of-16 shots overall and connected on five-of-nine from long range, while adding six rebounds and three steals. Characklis was seven-of-14 from the floor and finished with a pair of blocks. Sophomore forward Preet Gill added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench for CWRU.

The Violets led by as many as 11 during the opening period, but the Spartans closed the frame on a 5-0 run over the final minute with a three-pointer by sophomore guard Margaret Terry and a jumper by Characklis, trimming the NYU lead to 25-19 by the start of the second quarter. However, the Violets were able to pull away in the second, leading by as many as 17 during the frame and taking a 14-point lead, 45-31, into halftime.

The Spartans fought their way back into the game, and pulled within seven points, 53-46, after a three by first-year guard/forward Lucy Vanderbeck with 4:20 left in the third. CWRU remained within single digits for most of the remainder of the period, but a late three gave NYU a 62-51 advantage heading into the final period.

CWRU cut the NYU lead to single digits one final time, trimming a 12-point advantage to seven after a layup by Characklis and a three by Mills made it a 63-56 game with 8:09 to go. But, NYU answered with five-straight points of their own, and remained ahead by at least 10 for the rest of the game.

CWRU finished the game shooting 31.3% (20-of-64) overall and 36.4% (eight-of-22) from three-point range, while connecting on 88.2% (15-of-17) free throws.

Case Western Reserve will be back in action on Sunday, hosting Brandeis University at 1:00 p.m. inside Horsburgh Gymnasium.