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Brown University
14-8, 5-4Ivy
Penn
15-6, 8-0Ivy
Steeves Scores Career-High 27, Women's Basketball Pushes Penn in 71-68 Setback
2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore forward Erika Steeves scored a career and game-high 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, but Brown University women's basketball fell to the University of Pennsylvania, 71-68, on Friday night at the Pizzitola Sports Center.
The Bears (14-8, 5-4 Ivy) held a lead for over 32 minutes in the game and gained a 66-59 edge with 4:16 to play before the visiting Quakers (15-6, 8-0 Ivy) – the leaders in the Ivy League standings and winners of two of the last three Ivy titles – outscored the hosts 12-2 in the final 3:49 to remain unbeaten in Ancient Eight play.
As part of her second 20-point effort of the season, Steeves (Montreal, Quebec) set career highs for points and 3-pointers made (5-of-8) while tying her career best for field goals made (10-of-14) and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
Sophomore guard Shayna Mehta (San Francisco, Calif.) tallied 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, freshman guard Justine Gaziano (Natick, Mass.) posted 11 points and six boards, and junior forward Janie White (Clarksville, Tenn.) contributed eight points and four assists.
Mehta and Gaziano scored in double figures for the 18th and 14th times respectively on the season.
For Penn, Michelle Nwokedi totaled a double-double on 21 points and 12 rebounds – eight offensive – alongside game highs in assists (five) and blocks (three). Anna Ross netted 15 points with four assists.
The Quakers held a 32-18 advantage in points in the paint and corralled 21 offensive rebounds on their way to winning the rebounding battle, 45-33.
The Bears scored 10 straight points with five apiece from Steeves and Gaziano to pull ahead 66-59 with 4:16 to play. Penn answered with seven consecutive points to tie the game 66-66 with 2:36 to go. A hook shot from White gave Brown back a 68-66 lead at the 1:34 mark, but a 3-point play from Ross 31 seconds later put Penn up 69-68 before the Quakers closed the game with two free throws.
In the first quarter, the Bears jumped out to a 16-5 lead behind a 12-0 run at the 5:35 mark behind eight points from Steeves including two 3-pointers. Brown pushed its edge to 26-10 late in the first quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers from Mehta highlighting the stretch.
Trailing 28-13 entering the second quarter, the Quakers chipped away at the Brown lead, outscoring the Bears 18-6 to trim their deficit to 34-31 with 2:11 remaining in the half. A jumper and then a 3-pointer from Steeves helped the Bears go into the locker room up 39-33.
Brown maintained a 49-44 advantage with 3:31 to go in the third quarter behind four straight points from White prior to a 9-0 Penn run which gave the visitors a 53-49 edge – their first lead since early in the first quarter – with 25 seconds to go in the frame. A basket from Mehta pulled Brown within 53-51 heading to the fourth quarter.
Next, Brown hosts Princeton tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 18, at 3:30 p.m. (ILDN, WPRV-AM 790).
Video of all Brown women's basketball home contests and all Ivy League games, home and away, will be broadcast live on ILDN.TV/BROWN.
Tickets for all Brown women's basketball games can be purchased online, by calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or by walking up to the box office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
