The Justice

Media Credit: David Sheppard-Brick Forward Amber Strodthoff '11 lays up a shot against visiting Emory University in a 10-point win last Friday.

With 1 minute, 2 seconds remaining in the women's basketball team's final regular season home game against Case Western Reserve University last Sunday, head coach Carol Simon called a time-out despite the fact that her team was leading by 22 points. Simon made a substitution, putting in guard Lauren Goyete '09 to inbound the ball. It was Goyette's first game action all year, having missed the Judges' previous 23 games this season.

"It was kind of bittersweet," Goyette said. "I haven't had a chance to play all season because of injury. But it was nice of [coach] Carol [Simon] to put me in and all my teammates to support me."

Goyette's teammates helped make sure that she and the three other seniors on the team-starting forwards Lauren Orlando '09 and Cassidy Dadaos '09 and reserve forward Amanda Wells '09-went out on a high note on Senior Day at Red Auerbach Arena.

The Judges defeated Case Western 76-56 to move to 17-6 and 7-6 in the University Athletic Association, putting the team back into the d3hoops.com top-25 poll at No. 25. Brandeis has now won four in a row, including a 52-50 win Feb. 15 at then-No. 2 University of Rochester and last Friday's 67-57 win over Emory University.

The team's recent four-game winning streak has greatly helped the Judges' chances of getting an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament in March. Despite their six losses, the Judges are currently ranked third in the Northeast Region thanks to their difficult strength of schedule. According to d3hoops.com, they have the highest opponents' winning percentage in Division III through last Friday's games.

"Right now if the season were to end today, I would say yes, we probably should be in the tournament, but I'm not on the committee, and I don't make those decisions," Simon said.

The Judges' game against Case Western got off to a slow start, with both teams committing early turnovers. Brandeis struck first on a steal and breakaway layup by guard Jessica Chapin '10 just under two minutes into the contest. The teams then traded shots, resulting in Case Western taking an 11-10 lead with 11:59 left in the first half.

Continued...

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