From University of Rochester Athletics
Freshmen Al Leslie and Lauren Deming combined for 42 points and
26 rebounds as the University of Rochester upended seventh-ranked
Washington University, 76-75, at the Louis Alexander Palestra on
Sunday afternoon.
It's the second victory in the last nine days over a top 10
opponent for Rochester. On February 6, Rochester defeated
eighth-ranked NYU, 72-63. Leslie was a catalyst in both of the wins
over the top 10s. She had 28 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists
against NYU. This time, she scored 21 points and grabbed 14
rebounds against Washington.
Deming finished with career bests of 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Sophomore Brynn Lauer scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds, and
handed out three assists.
It didn't come easily. Rochester used a late second-half scoring
sprint to open a 67-58 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
In the last 90 seconds, the Bears got seven points from junior
Jordan Thompson and five points from senior Maddy Scheppers. When
Thompson hit a 3-pointer from left wing, the lead was down to one,
73-72, with 23.8 seconds left.
Deming made two free throws with 19.9 left and Leslie sank one of
two with 7.9 left. That put the lead at 76-72 and offset a
3-pointer by junior Katybeth Biewen just before the final
buzzer.
Four of Washington's starters hit double figures. Scheppers scored
20 points. Thompson had 17 and senior Melissa Gilkey added 16 plus
eight rebounds and three blocks. Biewen had 10 points and four
steals.
Rochester clinched a winning season with the victory. The
Yellowjackets are 13-9 overall, 5-6 in the University Athletic
Association.
Washington saw a six-game winning streak snapped. The Bears are
20-2 overall, 9-2 in the UAA. They fell into a second place tie
with NYU. Both teams are one game behind Chicago. NYU goes to
Washington on Friday and Chicago on Sunday. Washington, which
defeated Chicago earlier this year, hosts Chicago on February 28 in
the season finale.
This was Senior Day on the River Campus. The players did not
talk about it that much at Saturday's practice. Washington defeated
Rochester, 87-52, in St. Louis four weeks ago. On Friday, the
Yellowjackets started slowly and lost to Chicago, 76-66, in the
Palestra.
"They (seniors Ally Zywicki and Blair Landolfi) didn't have to say
anything," Leslie said. "We knew what happened out there (in St.
Louis). We wanted to play our best for them."
Washington's shooters went cold in the last five minutes of the
first half. Rochester closed the half on an 11-0 run. Leslie had
four points. Sophomore Sarah Kaminsky had three. Deming and
Landolfi had rebound layups. Rochester led, 35-24.
The Bears had a miserable first half shooting the ball. They were
10-38 from the floor (26%) and 2-7 outside the arc (29%). Rochester
hit 40% in the first half (12-30), only 11% beyond the 3-point line
(1-9).
In the second half, the Bears' aggressiveness offensive produced
points quickly. The Rochester lead was down to six points after
3:22. Rochester moved back out to a 46-38 lead following a
3-pointer from Kaminsky and one free throw by Leslie. Senior Alyssa
Johanson hit a 3-pointer, Gilkey scored on a conventional 3-point
play, and Johanson added a runner to bring Washington within 48-46
midway through the second half. The Bears finally moved back in
front, 54-52, after three free throws by Scheppers and a 12-footer
off the left baseline from Johanson.
Rochester went on a 15-4 run over the next two and a half minutes.
Deming hit two 3-pointers and Lauer had one. Deming sank two free
throws, Lauer hit a 12-footer, and junior Kayla Kibling sank a
runner in the lane. That pushed the lead to 67-58 with 2:39
remaining.
"We didn't play our best (against Washington last time)," Zywicki
said. "Our younger girls played great today. Having Al on the floor
is big. She draws defenders and gives us a lot of shots."