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Second Half Rally Pushes Rochester Past New Paltz

Second Half Rally Pushes Rochester Past New Paltz
Posted: Nov 18, 2016

From University of Rochester Athletics

Alexandra Leslie and Lauren Deming combined for 46 points and 26 rebounds to lead the University of Rochester (2-0) to a come-from-behind 88-76 victory over SUNY New Paltz in the semifinals of the Chuck Resler Tournament at the Palestra on Friday night.

Leslie scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Deming added 20 points and 12 rebounds. Lauren Foley scored 13 points, including three 3-point field goals.

Marion Dietz scored 20 points for New Paltz (1-1). She made 11 of 12 free throw attempts. Courtney Irby scored 17 points and Kit Small scored 16 points. Early in the second quarter, Small made a layup to reach the 1,000 point plateau. She is the fourth women's player in New Paltz history to top the 1,000 point career mark. She stands at 1,011 points heading into a third place game against the University of Mount Union.

The University of Scranton defeated Mount Union, 70-36, in the first semifinal on Friday. Scranton, which is ranked as high as #2 in one pre-season poll, will play Rochester for the tournament championship.

New Paltz rode 13 points from Dietz and 11 from Irby to a 40-30 lead at halftime. Deming had 10 points to lead Rochester at the break. The Yellowjackets hit 37% from the floor in the first half, 20% outside the arc (3-15). New Paltz assembled a 22-14 second quarter on 53% shooting from the field. The defense held Rochester to one field goal in the last 4:33 and outscored the Yellowjackets, 12-3, to take charge.

Down by eight midway through the third quarter (47-39), Rochester got two 3-pointers from Foley and one by Sarah Kaminsky to get within 51-50. Deming made a layup, Leslie added two free throws, and Mary Kronenwetter made two more free throws to give UR a 56-53 lead heading into the last period.

UR stretched that three-point lead to 61-55 early in the period, but New Paltz answered with a six-point run of its own to tie the score at 61-61 with 3:22 elapsed. The score was tied two more times – at 63 and 65 before Rochester began to edge away.

Foley sank a trey from the top of the key, then made a fastbreak layup. Deming added a conventional three-point play and a scoop shot. Brenna James sank a 3-pointer from the right corner and Foley converted another fast break. It was all part of a 15-4 run over three and a half minutes that pushed Rochester into an 80-69 lead with 1:48 left.