CHICAGO – Finally back in the win column, University of Chicago women's basketball wrapped up their homestand when Emory, the sixth ranked team in the country, visited the Ratner Athletic Center. It was a highly competitive game, one that the Maroons were able to take control of and walk away with in the fourth quarter, getting their biggest win of the season with a 14-point victory over the Eagles on Sunday.

FINAL SCORE
No. 6 Emory – 58
UChicago – 72

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Though the first quarter was a little more lopsided than the second, the opening half of the contest between University of Chicago (9-5, 2-1 UAA) and No. 6 Emory (12-2, 2-1 UAA) was almost as evenly matched as you'd expect in a contest like this. The two teams shot within percentage points of each other in both quarters, but it was the Eagles perfect 8-for-8 mark from the charity stripe and a small run in the first frame that gave them the three-point halftime lead.
• The tide started to turn in the third though. The Maroons grabbed their first advantage since the opening stages of the game when Ellie Gross hit back-to-back free throws midway through the quarter and the senior gave UChicago a three-point lead with ten minutes to play thanks to a layup in the closing seconds of the stanza.
• Gross would continue to come up big for the Maroons, as would the rest of the team, in the fourth to complete the conference upset. Only up by two with 7:05 left, the team increased their aggression to throw the Eagles off their game and get to the line. The strategy worked, and even thought team made just three field goals in the frame, they converted on 14 of their 18 attempts from the charity stripe to not only pull ahead but have a very comfortable lead in the closing moments of the contest. The eldest Gross hit on 11 of her 12 free throw tries overall to score a career-high tying 26 points in the double digit win over Emory.

CHICAGO COMMENTS

• "That was a great team defensive win against a very talented team. It was exciting to get our first weekend sweep of conference play and we are ready to keep rolling when we hit the road next weekend." Senior Ellie Gross
• "Our defensive toughness this weekend as a team was outstanding. We got contributions all over the board from our team. We've built momentum with our two big wins and I'm so proud of the way our team has stuck with adversity to make great things happen." – Head coach Maria Williamson

UCHICAGO STAT TRACKER
Points – Ellie Gross (26)
Rebounds – Lindsey Carter (11)
Assists – Three with two
Steals – Ellie Gross (2)
Blocks – Bri Simpson & Lindsey Carter (1)

WHO'S ON DECK
UChicago will look to keep moving up the UAA standings when they hit the road next weekend for two games on the East Coast. First up will be Brandeis on Friday at 5:30 pm eastern in Waltham, Mass.

For up-to-the-minute University of Chicago Maroons news, visit www.athletics.uchicago.edu. You can also follow us on Twitter @uchicagoath and @uchicagoathletics on Instagram.