January 6, 2007

#10 Chicago Defeats #24 Washington

CHICAGO -- In a matchup of nationally-ranked teams, the 10th-ranked University of Chicago got 14 points from junior Nofi Mojidi (Silver Spring, Md./ Bullis School) and 10 from senior Korry Schwanz (Menominee, Mich./ Menominee) en route to a 54-51 University Athletic Association victory over 24th-ranked Washington (Mo.) University Saturday at the Ratner Athletics Center.

Schwanz's basket with 7:38 remaining in the gave snapped a 42-42 tie and gave the Maroons (11-0 overall, 1-0 UAA) the lead for good. The win put Chicago at 11-0 for the first time in the program's 36-year history.

Washington (8-4, 0-1) led 22-20 at the 6:14 mark of the first half before Chicago closed out the period with an 11-2 run to take a 31-24 advantage at the intermission.

Mojidi scored on back-to-back possessions in the opening minute of the second stanza to give the Maroons their largest lead of the day, 35-24.

The Bears chipped away at the Chicago lead before tying the game at 42-42 on a Jaimie McFarlin jump shot at the 7:49 mark. McFarlin led all scorers with 15 points.

A Mojidi layup put the Maroons up 50-45 with 3:15 to go. Washington closed to within a point, 52-51, when Jill Brandt hit a three-point basket with 34 seconds left.

Chicago sealed the win when sophomore Alex Leach (Gurnee, Ill./ Warren) sunk a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining.

Both teams struggled from the field and the foul line. Chicago shot 34% from the floor and 58% from the line (7-for-12), while Washington connected at a 37% clip from the field and hit just two of eight free throw attempts (25%).

Rebecca Parker collected 10 points and nine boards for the Bears. She shared game-high rebounding honors with junior Nicaya Rapier (Munster, Ind./ Bishop Noll).

Box Score