From University of Chicago Athletics
Senior guard Maggie Ely scored a career-high 29 points to lead the University of Chicago women's basketball team to an 88-85 victory at University of Rochester on Sunday.
The Maroons (10-8 overall, 4-3 UAA) shot 50 percent from the field, which marks the third time this year they have made at least 50 percent in a game. The Yellowjackets dropped to 7-11 and 1-6 in conference.
Freshman forward Britta Nordstrom scored the first six points for UChicago on layups to put the visitors up 6-2. Rochester's Kelsey Hurley countered with six points of her own in the paint to put Rochester ahead 14-11. The Yellowjackets led by as many as seven points in the first half as each team shot 50 percent from the field in that time. Junior guard Morgan Donovan scored UChicago's final six points of the half as the visitors trailed 41-37 at halftime.
The Maroons hit 4 of 9 from three-point range in the first half, which featured a pair of treys each from Ely and junior forward Ellie Greiner. Ely tallied a team-high nine points while Nordstrom and junior guard Claire Devaney posted eight points.
In the second half, Ely netted another three-pointer to get UChicago within one point at 45-44, but the Yellowjackets recorded six-straight points to pad their lead. The Maroons clawed back to tie the game at 61-61, with Ely scoring 12 of the team's 24 points in the half. A 9-0 run shortly after put UChicago in the driver's seat at 72-65. However, Rochester responded again to tie the score at 72-72.
Nordstrom came up clutch in the game's final minute, hitting a three-pointer from the corner to give the Maroons a two-point lead with 46 seconds remaining. After a Yellowjackets turnover, the freshman beat the press and scored a layup with 16 seconds left. Rochester's Sarah Kaminsky splashed a three-pointer with seven seconds left to keep the game interesting at 86-85. Ely made both free throws after she was fouled on the in-bounds, and the Yellowjackets missed a three at the buzzer to end the game.
The Maroons were lights out from beyond the arc, making 10 of 18 on the day. It was the fifth time this year they've made at least 10 in a game. Ely converted 5 of 7 from three-point range, while Greiner was 3 of 4. Nordstrom set a career-high with 19 points while Devaney chipped in 18 points.
Rochester led in rebounds 40-30 and committed 16 turnovers. UChicago improved its ball control in the second half with only three turnovers to end up with 14 total.