From University of Chicago Athletics
A strong fourth quarter propelled the University of Chicago women's basketball team past University of Rochester for a 77-61 road victory on Friday evening.
The Maroons (9-4, 2-0 UAA) clinched their third win of the season over a nationally-ranked team. The No. 23-ranked Yellowjackets fell to 10-3 overall and 1-1 in the University Athletic Association (UAA).
UChicago got off to a flying start in the opening quarter. Nine-straight points staked the visitors to a 9-2 lead. Two layups by sophomore forward Olariche Obi got things going and then junior guard Elizabeth Nye took over, accounting for seven of the next eight Maroon points.
Rochester cut its deficit down to 12-10. Senior forward Britta Nordstrom then helped provide some separation. After sinking two free throws, she followed up with a steal on the next possession and assisted on freshman guard Miranda Burt's three-pointer. A trey courtesy of senior guard Stephanie Anderson pushed the advantage to double digits, and the Maroons were ahead 22-12 after the first quarter of play.
Foul trouble reared its head in the second quarter. Four Maroons were saddled with two fouls each 13 minutes into the game. However, UChicago kept rolling along and built its lead up to 14 points at 29-15 thanks to a pair of Anderson layups. The Yellowjackets drew closer as the half progressed, getting to within 34-27. Obi converted two layups in the final minute to break up the run and the visitors went into halftime with a 38-29 lead in tow.
Obi paced the team with 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the field, while Nye added eight points. Rochester's All-American forward Alexandra Leslie blocked five shots in the half to go with nine points.
The home team came surging back in the third quarter and closed to within 42-40. Two three-pointers by Nye helped extend the lead back out to 50-40. However, Leslie got rolling offensively and posted up for 11 points in the quarter, and UChicago went into the final 10 minutes clinging to a 54-52 advantage.
After a tie at 54-54, the momentum turned right back to the Maroons permanently. A 15-2 run put the game out of reach, capped by freshman forward Taylor Lake's and-one and a three-pointer from Anderson. Burt wore a path to the free throw line and scored nine points in the fourth quarter. All told, UChicago outscored Rochester 23-9 in the final frame. The Yellowjackets limped to the finish by shooting 2-for-13 from the field.
Turnovers were a big swing category in UChicago's favor. The visitors held a 23-12 advantage in that column and scored 31 points off miscues. Rebounds were even at 42 each.
The Maroons finished with a 37.1 percent shooting performance from the field, 28.6 percent from beyond the arc and 65.6 percent from the charity stripe. Rochester was limited to 38.9 percent shooting on field goals.
Burt posted her second-highest point total of the season with 18, sinking all nine of her free throws along the way. Nye tallied 14 points off the bench. Obi recorded 13 points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Anderson ended up with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.