Women’s Basketball Cruises Past Johnson & Wales, 78-46

Tuesday, November 27

Providence, R.I.

7:00 PM

Brown University

5-4

Johnson & Wales

1-3

Johnson & Wales

Brown

Women’s Basketball Cruises Past Johnson & Wales, 78-46

11/27/2018 9:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior forward Erika Steeves and junior guard Justine Gaziano both tallied double-doubles, freshman guard Maddie Mullin scored in double figures for the first time in her career, and Brown University women's basketball cruised past Johnson & Wales University, 78-46, on Tuesday night at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

In their final non-conference home contest of the season and the last game of a four-game home stand, the Bears (5-4) held a 40-16 lead at halftime and gained a lead as large as 33 points in the second half on their way to the victory over the visiting Wildcats (1-3).

"I give JWU a lot of credit, they had a really good beginning of the fourth quarter," Brown head coach Sarah Behn said. "We had a significant size advantage so I think we did what we were supposed to do on defense with the exception of five minutes in the fourth quarter. I'm happy that they played us, and I think they have a really good ball club."

Steeves (Montreal, Quebec) totaled season highs in points (18) and rebounds (15) for her second double-double of the year and the 17^th of her career. She connected on 8-of-19 field goals and notched her 21^st career game with double-digit rebounds. She now has 977 career points.

Gaziano (Natick, Mass.) finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists for her second double-double of the year and third of her career. She now has 1,021 career points moving into 18^th on Brown's all-time scoring list and passing Jordin Alexander '16 and Sophie Bikofsky '15 (both with 1,018 points).

Mullin (Wellesley, Mass.) netted 15 points in 17 minutes on 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point distance for her first collegiate game as a double-figure scorer.

Senior guard Shayna Mehta (San Francisco, Calif.) approached a triple double, recording 10 points, eight rebounds, and a career-high seven assists. She now has 217 career made 3-pointers, moving into seventh place all-time in Ivy League history and passing Yale's Jamie Van Horne (216).

Junior center Haley Green (Salem, Va.) posted eight points and five rebounds, freshman guard Traiva Breedlove (Rochester, N.Y.) added six points and three assists, and freshman forwards Alana Kelley (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Elle Baker (Scottsdale, Ariz.) each grabbed five rebounds.

For the game, Brown held advantages in rebounds (61-33), points in the paint (38-8), and second-chance points (24-10) behind 26 offensive rebounds. The Bears held the Wildcats to 27.1-percent shooting (16-of-59) in the contest.

The Bears took a 19-8 lead with 3:52 to play in the first quarter behind nine points from Steeves and an 8-0 run. Baskets from Gaziano and Steeves and a 3-pointer from Mullin gave Brown a 26-13 edge at the end of one.

Brown closed the half on a 14-0 run and outscored JWU, 14-3, in the second quarter. Green started the run before Kelley hit a wing 3-pointer. Steeves capped the run with a second-chance basket and a 3-pointer as Brown led 40-16 at the intermission.

In the first half, Brown registered 11 assists on 17 made field goals and gained advantages in points in the paint (18-0) and rebounds (30-18). In the second quarter, the Bears held the Wildcats to three points and to 0-of-13 shooting from the field.

Mehta hit a pair of 3-pointers in the opening three minutes of the third quarter, capping a 22-0 run as Brown took a 48-16 lead with 7:13 to play in the frame. Two triples from Mullin and buckets from Baker and Breedlove allowed Brown to maintain a 58-25 lead at the 1:24 mark of the stanza. The Bears stayed ahead 60-27 at the end of the third quarter.

In the final frame, Mullin converted two more 3-pointers, Gaziano scored six points, and Green added four points as Brown closed out the win over its in-state opponent.

Prior to the game, the Bears honored Gaziano for scoring her 1,000^th career point against Bucknell on Sunday. She became the 21^st 1,000-point scorer in program history.

For Johnson & Wales, Ally Mishol tallied 12 points and nine rebounds, Britney Gallagher scored 12 points, and Tiondra Hands chipped in nine points and six assists.

Next, Brown competes at the third annual Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament from Dec. 1-2 at the University of Rhode Island with the Bears opening play at the tournament against Bryant on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2:00 p.m.

Game Notes:
Shayna Mehta has scored in double figures in all nine games this season. She has scored in double-figures in 13 consecutive games and in 30 of her last 31 outings. She has scored in double figures 76 times in her career … Justine Gaziano has scored in double figures in six straight games, in eight games this season, and in 52 career games … Erika Steeves scored in double figures for the third time this season and 48^th time in her career … Haley Green made her first career start … Alana Kelley made her first career 3-pointer.

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.