Looking to carry the momentum from two pivotal conference victories a week ago, the nationally ranked Chicago women headed to the northeast for their first UAA road trip of the season. Adding two more wins in convincing fashion, the Maroons improved to 12–4 (3–2 UAA) ahead of next week’s major showdown against UAA-leading Case Western Reserve University.
The Maroons got things going on a snowy Friday evening in Boston, taking on conference foe Brandeis University. Separated by only one point after three quarters of play, Chicago pulled away with an explosive fourth quarter to down the Judges, 71–62.
Adding to what has already become a remarkable season, third-year Taylor Lake led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds. Fourth-year Ola Obi asserted herself on both ends of the floor, tallying a double-double and recording two blocks and a steal. First-year Kati Heller settled in from behind the arc, adding 12 points on four three-pointers.
In their annual trip to the Big Apple, the women faced off against the Violets of NYU in a Sunday matinee. In the upset of the weekend, the Maroons were denied their fourth straight conference victory, losing to the Violets in overtime by a score of 66–62.
Third-year Mia Farrell paced the Maroons with 16 points in the loss, while Obi and third-year Miranda Burt added 10 points each. Lake had another productive night, grabbing seven rebounds and scoring 15 points.
Taking their red-hot UAA start on the road, the Chicago men fell just short of completing a double-digit comeback against Brandeis Friday evening, storming back in the second half behind second-year Dominic Laravie but falling 72–71 in overtime. Laravie, showing his ability to stretch the floor, tallied 22 points in the effort, scoring 11 consecutive Maroon points late in regulation. Third-year Cole Schmitz and fourth-year Ryan Jacobsen also added 12 points each.
The disappointment was brief for the South Siders, getting back to their winning ways at the Coles Center of NYU on Sunday. Improving to 11–5 (4–1 UAA) on the season, the men outmatched the Violets, 74–68. Leading the way for Chicago was third-year Jordan Baum, pouring in a career-high 23 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.
“I think this year’s team has done a really good job focusing on each game as it comes and handling adversity as it comes during games. Even when the other teams have thrown punches, we have been quick to recover and throw a punch of our own,” Baum said. Asked about the team’s mindset heading back on the road next weekend, he added, “If we can keep playing as focused and as hard as we have been playing thus far in conference play, I think we are in for another great weekend.”
Both teams will be back at home this weekend, playing host to Case Western Reserve University (12–3, 4–0 UAA women, 8–7, 1–3 UAA men) on Friday before squaring off against Carnegie Mellon University (10–5, 1–3 UAA women, 8–7, 3–1 UAA men) on Sunday. See your Maroons in action at Ratner Athletics Center this Friday, with tip-off for the women slated for 6 p.m.
