From University of Rochester Athletics
Rochester senior center Alexandra Leslie stormed into second place on the career scoring list at UR with a game-high 23 points as Rochester defeated Carnegie Mellon University, 70-53, at Skibo Gym on Sunday afternoon.
Leslie boosted her career point total to 1,758 points. She passed Kristan Radak who scored 1,747 points from 1981-85). Leslie added 12 rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes.
She had plenty of help from teammates. Lauren Foley scored 11 points in 20 minutes off the bench, including three three-point goals. Lena Ethington scored 10 points with seven rebounds in 24 minutes, and Emma Michaels had 10 points, four rebounds, and four steals in 13 minutes off the bench.
Rochester improved to 18-4 overall, 8-3 in the University Athletic Association. The Yellowjackets sit alone in second place in the UAA standings behind the University of Chicago (20-2, 11-0). Washington (MO) is third (16-6, 7-4 UAA). Emory and NYU are both tied for fourth place at 6-5 in the race. Emory won at Case Western Reserve Sunday (73-62). NYU upended Washington, 82-79, in overtime in New York City. This weekend, NYU plays at Emory on Friday, at Rochester on Sunday. Rochester hosts Brandeis Friday, then NYU. UR is ranked #20 in the D3hoops.com media poll and #18 by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Carnegie Mellon's scoring leader was Makayla Filiere with 21 points in 38 minutes. She also had five steals. No other CMU player reached double figures. Laura Ochsner, Megan Jaeb, and Kylie Huffman all scored seven points apiece. The Tartans are 9-13 overall, 1-10 in the UAA.
Leslie took charge right at the start. She scored seven points in the first quarter (which ended with Rochester ahead, 20-12), then added 10 more points in the first 3:16 of the second period. Rochester outscored CMU, 14-2, in the first five minutes of the second quarter. That built the lead to 34-14.
CMU couldn't find a rhythm for its offense. The Tartans shot 24.1% from the floor in the first half (7-29). Rochester relied on a formidable game inside and scored 26 points in the paint in the first 20 minutes. UR had 40 points in the paint for the game.
Leslie had 22 points on Friday night in Rochester's win over Case Western Reserve University. That, plus the total vs. CMU, marked the second time this season that she has scored 20 or more in consecutive games. Most opponents have sagged on defense and she has used her passing skills to set up teammates. Her 54 assists (with three home games left) are two assists shy of her career high of 56 – set last season.