NYU women’s basketball wins 50th straight game, longest streak in NCAA

NYU women’s basketball is on a historic run.

The Violets, the top-ranked NCAA Division III women’s basketball team, won their 50th consecutive game on Friday as they defeated the University of Chicago, 80-58, to reach the milestone.

It’s the longest active streak in men’s or women’s NCAA basketball and is tied for the ninth-longest in DIII history.

Caroline Peper led the way with 22 points, adding five assists, three steals and one block.

Despite the streak looming over each game for the Violets, head coach Meg Barber insisted that the team didn’t get ahead of itself.

“Our motto all along has been to continue to stack 1-0 nights,” Barber told The Post via phone following the victory. “We were able to put that together again tonight to get the win.”

Their streak dates back to the start of last season, when the Violets went undefeated and won the NCAA Division III national title.

“I think the stretch speaks to the consistency of our culture and mentality and to put hard work first,” Barber added. “I told the team tonight that we are on our own special journey this year, and to see how far we can go.”

Prior to Friday’s game against Chicago, the Violets have been behind in a game just once this season, trailing 5-2 to Case Western Reserve University on Jan 26.

NYU won that game 107-31.

The majority of the roster has remained intact since the Violets’ undefeated 2023-24 season, as the team looks to win their second consecutive national title.

Team captain Natalie Bruns, however, holds the same mentality as her coach.

“We treated today just like any other game,” Bruns said. “But I don’t say that lightly, because I think we treat every game very seriously. We know that it’s one game at a time.”

Bruns, a graduate student who scored 13 points and chipped in six assists in the win Friday, was a key piece of the Violets’ championship-winning team when she won WBCA Division III Player of the Year honors.

She said the program has grown drastically since her freshman year.

“Seeing our growth, starting without a gym, being not nearly as dominant as we are now, has really developed a work ethic and a culture that has brought us so much success,” Bruns added.

“To do that with your best friends, there are no words for it, it’s been really great.”