From University of Rochester Athletics
Charles Dickens is renowned for writing A Tale of Two
Cities, but this was clearly a tale of two halves as the
University of Rochester rallied to defeat the College of Brockport,
81-73, in the opening round of the Wendy's College Classic on
Tuesday night.
The victory pushes Rochester (6-0) into Thursday night's semifinals
against St. John Fisher College at RIT (6 pm start). Fisher
defeated UR in last year's third place game, 72-60. Brockport will
play William Smith College at the Palestra at 8 pm on Thursday.
Ally Zywicki scored all 22 of her points in the second half to
spark the comeback. She was 5 of 7 from the floor (and outside the
arc) and 7 of 8 from the foul line. She put up that point total in
13 second half minutes.
Al Leslie finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and three assists.
Lauren Deming contributed 11 points and six boards.
Olivia Suhr led Brockport (1-3) with 17 points. Faith Welch scored
13 points. Hannah Rehbaum had 11, and Marissa Pike had 10.
In the second half, Rochester made 17 of 36 from the floor, 6 of 10
outside the arc. Brockport was 15 of 35 from the floor, 4 of 13
outside the arc.
Rochester's first half shooting was horrendous. The Yellowjackets
made just 11 of 37 floor shots, one of 10 outside the arc.
Rochester hit 29.7% from the floor and 10% (1-10) outside the
arc. They flexed muscle on the board, outrebounding Brockport
28-20. For the game, Rochester won the board battle, 50-40.
Leslie was the halftime scoring leader for Rochester. She had eight
points and 13 rebounds in 16 minutes. The halftime board total was
a season's high. Breanna Madrazo and Deming scored five points
each.
The halftime point leader was Yacovoni. She had 10 points, hitting
three of three outside the arc and one of two from the line.
Pike and Alyssa Rusinko also made treys for the Golden
Eagles. Brockport was 10 of 29 from the floor (34.5%) and 5 of 15
outside the arc (33%).
Brockport scored the first six points of the game with Welch
hitting a pair of jumpers and Suhr finishing a fast break
with a layup. Rochester missed its first five shots from the floor
and turned the ball over four times. The Yellowjackets finally got
on the board with 15:20 left when Tylar Guerrieri drove for a layup
from Kelsey Hurley.
The game swung both ways for the first nine minutes with neither
team able to string together a significant run. A trey from
Yacovoni put Brockport up, 15-13. Rochester ran off seven straight,
five from Leslie, to take a 20-15 lead.
A follow by Leslie with four minutes left gave Rochester a 29-23
lead. Brockport closed the half with a 13-2 run.
The early part of the second half wasn't much better. Brockport
burst to a 10-point , courtesy of a 9-2 sprint that put the Golden
Eagles ahead, 49-39.
Zywicki hit a trey on the next trip down the floor and that
kick-started a 20-3 run over six minutes. Rochester led, 59-52,
with just over nine minutes left. The lead went to 13, 72-59, after
Leslie completed a three-point play. Brockport crept close, thanks
to treys from Suhr and Rehbaum. In the final 78 seconds, Zywicki
scored nine points – a trey and six of six from the line
– to seal the win.