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Balanced Scoring Propels Yellowjackets Past Brandeis

Balanced Scoring Propels Yellowjackets Past Brandeis
Posted: Jan 29, 2017

From University of Rochester Athletics

With four starters scoring 10 points or more, the University of Rochester ran to a 75-58 victory over Brandeis University in women's basketball at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Sunday afternoon.

Lauren Foley led Rochester with 15 points, all on three-point goals. Brenna James and Alexandra Leslie had 12 points, and Lauren Deming scored 10. Sarah Kaminsky, the fifth starter had five points, two assists, one block, two steals, and two rebounds.

Noel Hodges led Brandeis with 13 points and five rebounds, Maria Jackson had 10 points and Sydney Sodine scored seven with five boards and three assists.

Rochester improved to 14-4 overall, 5-2 in the University Athletic Association. Brandeis is 10-8 overall, 2-5 UAA. The same two teams will meet in one week's time at Brandeis. The Yellowjackets remain tied for first place in the UAA at 5-2. Washington and Chicago are both 5-2. Carnegie Mellon is 4-3.

Foley's 15 points are a career high. In Friday's 68-49 win over NYU, she and fellow freshman James made three three-pointers apiece. This time, Foley had five and James had two. As a team, Rochester was 11 of 28 outside the arc (39%).

Brandeis couldn't get its offense into a rhythm in the first half. The Judges made seven of 25 field goals (28%) and turned the ball over 12 times leading to 10 Rochester points. Rochester led, 25-9, after one quarter and 36-20 at the break.

The Judges came out with a  fire to start the third quarter. With Hodges driving for a layup and making two free throws plus Jackson hitting a couple of soft jumpers in the lane, the Judges went on an 11-4 run to get the deficit down to nine, 40-31, just 2:24 into the period.

Jillian Silvestri hit a three-pointer, James scored on a driving hook, and Kenna Lauer scored on a backdoor layup. That opened the Rochester lead to 47-33.  In the closing minute of the third, Hodges and Kyla Gabriel sank three-point goals to pulled the Judges within 53-44 with 13 seconds left. James hit a three from in front of her own bench to beat the quarter horn and Rochester carried a 56-44 lead into the start of the fourth.

In the first five minutes of the last period, Rochester outscored Brandeis 13-5 to take a 69-49 lead. The hustle play of the stretch came when Leslie missed a layup and Lena Ethington battled gamely to secure the rebound. She threw it to Leslie who reversed the ball to Deming on the right side of the key. Deming threw it to Foley at the top of the circle and she calmly sank her fifth three-pointer of the game.