The Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team tried to stand in the way of history on Friday night at Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland as top-ranked New York University aimed to match the Division III record for consecutive wins, but after the Spartans pulled within three points with just under two minutes and 30 seconds left to play, the Violets were ultimately able to pull away for a 73-65 win.

The Spartans dropped to 8-11 overall and to 1-7 in University Athletic Association games following the loss, the team's seventh straight setback. NYU improved to 19-0 overall with an 8-0 UAA record and won its NCAA Division III record-tying 81st-consecutive game.

Stats and Standouts

• Senior guard/forward Emily Plachta played all 40 minutes on Friday night, finishing the game with 22 points on an eight-of-18 shooting performance. She added five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Junior forward Maura Schorr added 15 points on a five-of-eight shooting performance and collected eight rebounds.

• Junior guard Mya Hartjes led the Spartans with nine rebounds and four assists, while scoring 12 points.

• CWRU finished the game shooting 40.0% (24-60) overall, 46.2% (6-13) from three-point range, and 73.3% (11-15) from the free throw line, while NYU shot 37.7% (23-61) overall, 35.5% (11-31) from behind the three-point line, and 69.6% (16-23) from the charity stripe.

• The Spartans finished with a 34-20 edge in points in the paint and a 12-5 advantage in second-chance points.

First Period

• The game remained within a possession until the 2:42 mark of the first quarter when Schorr converted a layup after an offensive rebound to put CWRU in front by four points, 18-14.

• The Spartans remained ahead until a long three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Violets a 22-20 lead going into the second period.

• Schorr paced the Spartans during the opening period, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds, but collected three fouls and was forced to sit out the rest of the first half.

Second Period

• The Spartans stayed within three points but remained behind until Plachta made back-to-back layups, the latter of which she was fouled on and converted a free throw, to turn a three-point deficit into a 28-26 lead with 5:34 to play in the half.

• The teams went back-and-forth with a three by junior guard Jordyn Call putting the Spartans in front 32-31 with 4:20 on the clock, but NYU closed out the half on a 9-1 run to take a 40-33 advantage into the locker room.

Third Period

• The Violets hit a three to start the second half and go ahead by 10, but CWRU was able to trim the lead to four, after Call hit a pair of layups to make it a 45-41 game with 7:24 to go in the third.

• NYU increased its lead to double-digits again with six-straight points and went into the final frame leading by 10, 59-49.

• Plachta scored 10 of the team's 16 points during the quarter, and CWRU made seven-of-12 (58.3%) shots in the frame.

Fourth Period

• CWRU remained in the game with a three from Hartjes at the 7:52 mark and a pair of free throws from Schorr with 7:19 left, cutting NYU's lead to five points, 61-56.

• The Spartans continued to threaten the Violets, cutting the advantage to three points, 68-65, with 2:28 left on a free throw from Plachta.

• However, CWRU would not be able to get any closer, as the Violets scored the final four points of the contest to hold off the upset-minded Spartans.

Spartan Notes

• Friday night marked the start of Throwback Weekend for the Spartans, who competed in the traditional gold uniform of Mather College.

• There were 14 total lead changes and six ties during Friday's game. CWRU led for six minutes and 25 seconds of the game.

• CWRU's 46.2% mark from three-point range on Friday was the team's second-highest mark of the year, behind only their 47.1% against the Violets last week.

• Plachta's 22 points were just three shy of her career-best mark. It was her third effort of 20 or more points this season and was the 15th time through 19 games this season that she has scored in double figures. Plachta is second among Spartans this season with 14.2 points per game this season.

• The Spartans have now lost 11 straight games to the Violets and fell to 15-51 all-time against NYU.

Up Next

CWRU will be back in action on Sunday, February 8, at noon, hosting Brandeis University inside Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland. The Spartans will also continue Throwback Weekend on Sunday, in addition to celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day during the game.