BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Nov. 30, 2025) – The USMMA women's basketball team scored the most points by any opponent against NYU since February of 2024 on Sunday in a 102-70 neutral-site defeat to the back-to-back national champions and #1 nationally ranked Violets on the second and final day of Medgar Evers' Dr. Betty Shabazz Tournament. The loss drops the Mariners' record to 5-2, while NYU improves to 7-0 with the victory.
The last time an opposing team put up 70 points against NYU was when the University of Chicago scored 76 in a narrow four-point home loss to the Violets back on Feb. 18, 2024. It's also worth noting that the Mariners scored 65 points against NYU in a home loss early in the 2024-25 season.
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Sophomore
Carolae Barton (Waldorf, Md.) was named to the All-Tournament Team as she led the Mariners once again with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Junior
Emily Grasseler (Millbrook, N.Y.) produced her second-straight double-double (and sixth of the seven games thus far this season), as she notched 20 points to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds. Sophomore
Breanna Sommers (Casa Grande, Ariz.) scored 10 points, while freshman
Jaden Lodice (Littleton, Colo.) added nine points and senior
Hannah Ramsden (Port Aransas, Texas) contributed a team-best six assists.
NYU opened the game with heavy defensive pressure and quick transition scoring, forcing a series of early turnovers as they built a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter. Merchant Marine settled in with baskets from Sommers, Barton, Grasseler and Lodice, trimming the deficit to seven before NYU closed the period ahead 27–15, then extended the margin by pushing the pace and converting second-chance opportunities in the second stanza to take a 55–28 lead into halftime.
After the break, the Mariners continued to compete, getting inside finishes from Barton, Sommers and Grasseler and a three from Lodice, but NYU's perimeter shooting kept the margin out of reach. Merchant Marine put together stretches of strong half-court defense and efficient scoring, but NYU maintained control throughout the second half and closed out the victory.
NYU shot 47% from the field and 40.9% from three, using 18 made threes and 35 points off turnovers to create separation, while Merchant Marine countered with an efficient 44.3% shooting performance and a 93.3% mark at the free-throw line. The Mariners held a 44–43 edge in points in the paint and produced a notable 23 second-chance points on 19 offensive rebounds. NYU's advantages in transition (27 fast-break points) and bench scoring (30–4) proved to be the biggest statistical gaps.
The Violets were led by senior Caroline Peper, who drained a remarkable 41 points thanks in large part to 11 three-pointers, while also recording seven steals. Junior Brooke Batchelor added 17 points and classmate Yasmene Clark contributed 13 points off the bench to go along with a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman Olivia Lagao led all players in the game with seven assists.
Up next, Merchant Marine will travel up to Purchase, N.Y. this Wednesday, Dec. 3, to take on Skyline Conference rival Manhattanville. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Valiants' Kennedy Gymnasium.
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