Ranked #12 in the ESPN/USA Today Division III Coaches’ Poll and #18 by D3hoops.com, NYU (17-2, 6-2 UAA) shot 52.0% (26-50) from the floor, including a season-best 52.9% (9-17) from beyond the three-point arc, to forge a first-place tie atop the UAA standings with the Bears (14-5, 6-2 UAA).
Washington was ranked #11 by D3hoops.com and #17 by ESPN/USA Today.
Five different players reached double digits for NYU, with sophomore forward and fourt-time reigning UAA Co-Athlete of the Week Jessica McEntee (14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, 9-9 FT) just missing her 11th double-double of the season. Senior center Karen Bachman (10 points, 10 rebounds) notched a double-double, while senior forward Stephanie Ryba (13 points, 5-7 FG) and junior guard Chelsea Trout (10 points) also reached double digits.
Halsey Ward led the Bears with 12 points off the bench, while Jaimie McFarlin added nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Washington shot just 36.4% (24-66) from the floor.
NYU took control from the opening tap, using a 19-4 run over the first 7:50 thanks to seven points by Rochetti. The senior guard netted the Violets’ first five points and capped the opening spurt with a mid-range jumper.
Meanwhile, Washington went 5:39 without a point until McFarlin converted a lay-up. The Bears tallied five straight points to pull within 19-9, but NYU quickly turned up its defensive intensity – Washington committed 14 first-half turnovers and shot just 31.0% (9-29) in the opening 20 minutes – and led by as much as 33-15 just 2:23 before halftime.
McEntee tallied 10 of her points in the opening stanza, and Rochetti and senior center Karen Bachman added eight apiece, as NYU took a 37-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Violets maintained their dominance in the second half, hitting at a 66.7% (14-21) in the second half and led by as many as 29.
NYU resumes action Sunday, Feb. 4, when it hosts UAA rival the University of Chicago at 2 pm. The Violets defeated the then-#1 Maroons 75-68 on Jan. 26 in the Windy City thanks to career highs of 23 points and 20 rebounds by McEntee.