NYU Women’s Basketball Team Sets New Record
In a remarkable achievement, New York University’s women’s basketball team has etched its name into the record books by notching its 82nd consecutive victory, defeating Carnegie Mellon University with a score of 69-58 on Sunday. This triumph not only solidifies NYU’s dominance in the Division III sphere but eclipses the previous record of 81 straight wins held by Washington University in St. Louis from 1998 to 2001.
Current Season and Future Goals
The Violets, now boasting an impressive unbeaten run at 20-0 this season, have their sights set on further accolades, aiming for their fifth consecutive University Athletic Association (UAA) conference title and a chance to secure their third national championship—a feat previously accomplished by Wash U in the late 1990s.
Game Highlights
Caroline Peper emerged as the standout player, scoring 27 points to propel the two-time defending national champions to victory. The game was fiercely contested, with NYU narrowly leading 32-29 at halftime, thanks to a timely three-pointer from Brooke Batchelor just before the break. Following the intermission, both Peper and Batchelor delivered essential three-pointers, initiating a 17-6 run that allowed NYU to establish a comfortable lead.
Carnegie Mellon, now with a record of 12-7, attempted to claw back, closing the gap to 56-51 midway through the fourth quarter. However, Zahra Alexander, contributing all seven of her points in the crucial final period, responded decisively with consecutive layups, pushing the lead to 60-53. In the closing minutes, Peper nailed a critical three-pointer just ahead of the shot-clock to secure the victory.
Competitive Spirit and Historical Context
This latest game marked a rematch from the previous week, where NYU managed to edge Carnegie Mellon by just a single point, underscoring the fierce competitiveness of their encounters. Throughout this extraordinary winning streak, only three teams have managed to come within a single-digit margin against the Violets, with Chicago University, Whittier, and Case Western Reserve all falling short in recent matchups.
Peper’s Journey
Peper, the sole player on the roster with collegiate losses at NYU, faced defeat in her freshman year when the team was ousted by Transylvania during the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III tournament. Since then, NYU has been on an unstoppable trajectory, now turning its focus towards further tournament successes and continuing their historical streak in women’s college basketball.
