From University of Rochester Athletics
The #21 ranked University of Rochester women's basketball team used a huge game from sophomore Alexandra Leslie to hang on for a 74-71 victory over Ithaca College on Saturday afternoon at IC's Ben Light Gymnasium.
Leslie poured in a season high 25 points and added a career high 21 rebounds, seven coming on the offensive glass to power the Yellowjackets (7-1). She was the only UR player in double figures on the day. The Bombers (3-5) used a strong third quarter to get back into a game which saw the visiting Yellowjackets build an 11-point lead at halftime.
Ithaca got off to an early six point lead in the contest, shooting 6-of-12 from the floor over the opening five minutes. Rochester would then close the quarter on an 11-4 run, sparked by six Tylar Guerrier points to pull ahead 22-21 through the opening 10 minutes.
In the 2nd, UR outscored Ithaca 22-12 with the help of some poor Bomber shooting. In the quarter Ithaca made just 4 of 15 shots and committed four turnovers. Leslie led UR with eight points in the period while Kelsey Hurley sank two 3-pointers in the final minute to five Rochester an 11-point edge at the break, up 44-33.
It was a reversal of fortunes for the Bombers in the 3rd quarter as they outscored Rochester 24-13 to pull even heading into the fourth. In the 3rd, Ithaca shot 50% from the floor and made four 3-pointers, including back-to-back treys from Jordan Beers and Ali Ricchiuti to pull it within one. The three's were included in 13-3 spurt which saw Ithaca build its biggest second half lead to three with 2:55 on the clock.
After an Erin Ferguson jumper gave Ithaca a 2-point lead early in the fourth, UR got a basket from Sarah Kaminsky and a jumper from Leslie to grab the lead for good. Down the stretch, UR got a big 3-pointer from Kayla Kibling and then Lauren Deming made five free throws in the final minute to seal the three point victory.
Deming finished with nine points for the 'Jackets while Kaminsky, Kibling and Hurley each scored eight. On the glass, UR held a 50-41 edge, including 19 on the offensive boards which turned into 19 second chance points.
Ithaca was paced by four starters in double-figures. Beer had 19 points and six rebounds while Ricchiuti scored 16 and pulled down six boards. Ferguson chipped in 14 while Keri Steele added 10 points.