Women’s Basketball Beats Brooklyn, Moves to 7-0

The+womens+basketball+team+improved+their+record+to+a+stellar+7-0%2C+increasing+their+season+opening+streak.

via gonyuathletics.com

The women’s basketball team improved their record to a stellar 7-0, increasing their season opening streak.

Rachel Ruecker, Sports Editor

The 25th-ranked NYU women’s basketball team entered part two of a three game homestand at the Hunter Sportsplex last night, taking on the Brooklyn College Bulldogs. Though Brooklyn College threatened at times, the Violets’ were able to put the Bulldogs away, taking the game 59-49 and stretching their winning streak to seven straight games to start the season.

In the first quarter, Brooklyn’s Olivia Colbert netted a lone free throw at the start — it was the only time they would lead all night. Junior forward Kayla Patterson kickstarted the scoring for the Violets with a pair of free throws, and the team managed to move away from the Bulldogs to the tune of an 18-9 after the first quarter.

NYU kept the upper hand in the second quarter, despite some advances from Brooklyn College, but the Bulldogs were never able to cut much into the Violets’ lead, who ended the first half up by 10.

The third quarter was a pivotal one for the Violets as they maintained a double digit lead over the Bulldogs for much of the time. Senior guard Amy Harioka, who managed two steals and five points in the quarter, was a standout on the court. On the night, she totaled 10 points and 36 minutes on the court. Her aggressive play helped the Violets hold a comfortable 45-32 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter capped the game nicely, though the Bulldogs came in ablazing at the top, picking apart NYU’s defenses to quickly find themselves within seven, at 45-38, with more than seven minutes left to play. Senior guard Kaitlyn Read was having none of it, however, as she scored nine points in quarter, capping off a solid win for the Violets at home.

The game was a lower scoring affair than what the Violets have grown accustomed to thus far, perhaps a testament to the stiff competition they faced. Read, who helped pave the way for the Violets’ win — coming away with the team-leading 22 points — remarked that the game wasn’t an easy one.

“It was a tough game, and we got beat to a lot of loose balls, but we were able to pull through because we pushed the ball and stayed composed,” Read said.

The women’s team will round out this homestand on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m., playing Hunter College, as well as an alumnae game at 11 a.m. It will be the Violets’ last game until after Christmas, when they will get things underway on the second half of the season Friday, Dec. 30 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania against Franklin & Marshall College.

Email Rachel Ruecker at [email protected].