CHICAGO – In a home showdown against a top 10 nationally-ranked opponent, the University of Chicago women's basketball team battled New York University the whole way on Sunday afternoon before absorbing a 72-64 loss.

The Maroons dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-4 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The No. 9-ranked Violets kept their perfect record intact at 14-0 on the year (5-0 UAA).

NYU was aggressive from the jump, driving the lane with conviction at every opportunity and taking an early 8-3 lead. UChicago was game and tied things back up at 8-8 following a pair of three-pointers by senior Klaire Steffens and a layup by junior Mallory Brodnik. An 11-2 run capped by junior Ashley Gao's jumper put the home team ahead 14-10. The score stood at 16-14 UChicago after one quarter of action.

The Violets were able to close ranks and limit good looks by the Maroons in the second quarter. But the hosts were equally up to the task, holding NYU to 20 percent shooting in the period. Most of the Violet points came via the free throw line (7 of 8), which became more of a theme as the game went on. The visitors went up 24-18 and UChicago answered right back to tie it at 24-24. Going into halftime, NYU held a tenuous 26-25 edge.

The third quarter featured sharp performances by the Maroon shooters. The home side made half of their shots, including a 4-for-7 showing from three-point range. Junior Peyton Van Soest scored eight points in the quarter, including a pair of treys.

NYU continually looked inside to get the ball to its post players – the visitors only took six three-point attempts all game and hit one. On the other end, UChicago kicked the ball out continually and fired up 23 shots from long range.

Back-to-back layups by Gao and Van Soest tied the game up 31-31. UChicago went on a 12-2 run to take its biggest lead of the afternoon at 41-33. A pair of Van Soest jumpers put the Maroons up 49-42 a few minutes later.

Foul trouble proved burdensome to UChicago in the second half. Multiple Maroons picked up their fourth fouls during the fourth quarter as NYU continually drew contact in the paint. UChicago was whistled for twice as many fouls in the game, leading to 33 total NYU free throw attempts.

An 8-2 streak by the visitors put them back ahead at 52-51. Sophomore Ellie Gross soon canned a three to tie the game up at 54-54. However, the Violets kept finding ways to score in the post and went up 64-58 with two minutes remaining. NYU closed out the game at the charity stripe soon after and were aided by a 12-4 rebounding advantage in the fourth quarter.

Van Soest paced the squad with 11 points and junior Grace Hynes added 10 points. Gross and Steffens tallied eight points each, while Brodnik snagged seven points and 10 rebounds.

In the final box score, the Maroons made 39.3 percent of their field goals, 39.1 percent of their three-pointers (9-23) and 63.6 percent of their free throws (7-11). The Violets shot 43.1 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from beyond the arc (1-6) and 81.8 percent from the free throw line (27-33).

NYU held sway on the boards with a 41-31 rebounding margin. Turnovers were even at 15 for each team.

NEXT GAME:

• Friday, Jan. 28 @ 7:30 PM (ET) – UChicago at Case Western Reserve University