Gaziano’s Double-Double Leads Women’s Basketball Over New Hampshire, 76-70

Thursday, November 15

Providence, R.I.

7:00 PM

Brown University

2-2

New Hampshire

0-3

New Hampshire

Brown

Gaziano’s Double-Double Leads Women’s Basketball Over New Hampshire, 76-70

11/15/2018 9:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Video Highlights

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior guard Justine Gaziano posted her second career double-double on 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead Brown University women's basketball to a 76-70 win over the University of New Hampshire on Thursday night at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

The Bears (2-2) led 43-29 at halftime, held a lead as large as 15 points in the fourth quarter, and held off a late rally from the visiting Wildcats (0-3) in the victory.

"This is definitely a step in the right direction," Brown head coach Sarah Behn said. "We answered each time that UNH cut into the lead. We made our free throws more often than not, and I was proud that even if we made a mistake, we answered it with a positive play. I was really proud of the kids."

Gaziano (Natick, Mass.) tallied her first double-double of the season with season highs in points (29) and rebounds (11), connecting on 12-of-23 field goals. She registered her 21^st career 20-point game, leading four Bears in double figures.

Senior forward Erika Steeves (Montreal, Quebec) scored a season-high 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting alongside eight rebounds and three assists. She scored in double figures for the 46^th time in her career.

Senior guard Shayna Mehta (San Francisco, Calif.) compiled 13 points and six rebounds with season highs in assists (five) and steals (five). She notched her 71^st career game in double figures.

Senior guard Taylor Will (Arlington Heights, Ill.) netted a season-high 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 shots from 3-point distance, adding five rebounds. Senior forward Mary Butler (Bangor, Maine) chipped in five points, five assists, and four rebounds.

For the game, Brown held a 14-0 advantage in fast break points. The Bears led for 36:29 of the contest's 40 minutes and trailed for just 37 seconds.

The Bears opened the game with a 13-6 lead midway through the first quarter behind five points from Steeves, four points from Gaziano, and baskets from Mehta and Will. After UNH pulled ahead 14-13, 3-pointers from freshman guard Maddie Mullin (Wellesley, Mass.) and Will plus four points from Gaziano allowed Brown to re-gain a 25-20 edge at the end of the opening stanza.

In the second quarter, Gaziano scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including a stretch of 11 straight points for the Bears. She started the streak with an old-fashioned 3-point play and her 10^th and 11^th points of the stretch gave Brown a 37-27 lead with 4:19 left in the half. The Bears closed the half on a 6-0 run to earn a 43-29 advantage at the break.

In the first half, Brown held a 15-3 advantage in points off turnovers, forcing the Wildcats into 13 turnovers.

The Bears maintained a 53-40 lead with 2:44 to go in the third quarter as Mehta converted a pair of baskets in transition, Steeves hit a 17-foot jump shot, and Butler and Will both made layups. A corner 3-pointer from Will inside of the period's final minute helped the Bears remain ahead, 58-46, heading to the fourth quarter.

A 3-point play from Gaziano, and a mid-range jumper from Mehta pushed Brown ahead 65-60 with 7:53 remaining. The Wildcats used a 10-0 run in 1:01 to whittle the margin to 65-50 before Gaziano made a layup in transition. Inside of the final 62 seconds, buckets from Mehta and Butler prior to three Brown free throws sealed the win.

For New Hampshire, Ashley Storey scored 21 points, Maggie Ahearn totaled a double-double on 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Amanda Torres netted 14 points.

The Bears improved to 9-13 all-time against the Wildcats and earned their first win over UNH since Dec. 2, 2012.

Next, Brown plays at Holy Cross on Sunday, Nov. 18 at noon (NESNplus/Patriot League Network).

Video of all Brown women's basketball home contests and all Ivy League games, home and away, will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

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.