The Justice

TWO AND THROUGH: Forward Cassidy Dadaos '09, right, goes up for the basket while being defended by University of Maine at Farmington freshman forward Caitlyn Laflin during the Judges' 90-66 first-round NCAA tournament victory Friday. The Judges' tournament run ended in Saturday's with a close second-round loss, as they fell 71-66 against host Emmanuel College. Photo by Julian Agin-Liebes/the Justice.

BOSTON-With a 13-point lead in the first half of its second-round NCAA tournament game against Emmanuel College here Saturday, it looked like the women's basketball team was ready to take the next step in its rise to national prominence. But after a turnover-plagued game, the Judges found themselves back to where they were last year: just short of the Sweet 16.

Thanks to an abysmal 35 turnovers, the Judges dropped a close second-round tournament game for the second year in a row, losing to the Saints 71-66. The win came after a 90-66 first-round blowout against the University of Maine at Farmington Friday night.

"At first, I thought the first trip to the NCAAs [last season] was harder, but as I thought about it, the effort it takes to maintain your play and stay at the top is very hard," coach Carol Simon told reporters after the game.

A year after making the tournament for the first time in the program's history, Brandeis finished the season 20-6. It's the fourth consecutive season during which the Judges have won at least 20 games.

Center Caitlin Malcolm '07 ended her prolific career with 23 points and a game-high 14 rebounds against Emmanuel Saturday, while guard Jessica Chapin '10 contributed 11 points off the bench. However, guard Jaime Capra '08, the team's leading scorer this season at 15.8 points per game, was held to just 10 points after she torched Maine the night before for 33 points.

Brandeis was stifled by Emmanuel's physical style of play and full-court press, and the Saints scored 36 points off the Judges' turnovers.

"We just couldn't break the press, and it led to too many turnovers," Simon said.

Continued...

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