From University of Rochester Athletics
The University of Rochester relied on its defense and rebounding to post a 62-46 women's basketball victory over visiting New York University, 62-46, at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Sunday afternoon.
Rochester held NYU to its lowest point total in two months and outrebounded NYU, 44-28. UR blocked nine shots, three apiece by Alexandra Leslie and Lauren Foley. Lauren Deming collected 12 rebounds to go with 10 points. Leslie scored 11 as did Brenna James.
Kaitlyn Read of NYU led all scorers with 15 points. She had six rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and three steals. Kayla Patterson had six points for the Violets. Lauren Brown scored five, and three others scored four.
The victory boosts Rochester's record to 20-4 overall, 10-3 in the University Athletic Association. This is UR's second season of 20 or more wins in the last three years and the 15th in school history. This is Rochester's 48th season sponsoring women's basketball.
The Yellowjackets also enhanced their chances of a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Division III playoffs. UR will be a contender for a Pool C (at-large) invitation since the University of Chicago clinched the UAA title outright on Friday evening. Rochester has been ranked #1 in the East Region by the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball regional advisory committee in the first two weekly polls. The third poll will be issued on Wednesday. Rochester was 2-0 this week, beating Brandeis, 61-51, on Friday night and NYU today. The Yellowjackets will host Emory University next Saturday at 2 pm in the regular season finale.
UR's victory also halted NYU's recent run of success. Since losing to Rochester, 83-79, in OT in New York City on January 21, NYU had won six of its last seven games. The Violets were hoping a victory could have gotten them into the regional rankings this week. NYU is 14-10 overall, 7-6 in the UAA. The Violets finish the regular season at Brandeis next Saturday.
Other than Deming, Rochester's rebound totals were as spread out as the scoring. Lizzy Atkinson scored eight points, three assists, and three boards. Lauren Foley had seven points and three blocks. Lena Ethington had five points, three boards, and two assists. James hit a pair of treys – the first three minutes into the third quarter to extend a UR lead to 35-24 and the second out of the right corner with 2:36 left in the game. NYU had trimmed a 13-point deficit down to nine, 53-44, on a fastbreak layup by Shaye McGoey. James sank her triple and Leslie made a layup for a 58-44 lead with less than two minutes to play.
Rochester led by four after one quarter, then stretched it to nine midway through the second on Atkinson's layup and free throw (24-15). Leslie backed in for a turnaround and a 28-17 lead with 89 seconds left in the period.
NYU answered quickly. Catherine Gould drove for a scoop shot. Mikaela Pyatt hit a three-pointer from the top of the key. After Deming's bucket, Brown made two free throws with nine-tenths of a second to play in the half, moving NYU within 30-24 at intermission.