From University of Rochester Athletics
The senior class led the way on Tuesday evening as the University of Rochester defeated Rochester Institute of Technology, 78-68, at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
It was the final non-conference game of the season for the Yellowjackets who begin their University Athletic Association on Saturday at Emory University.
Alexandra Leslie scored 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, had three assists, two blocked shots, and one steal in 31 minutes. Lauren Deming scored 17 points to accompany 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and three steals in 30 minutes. Lizzy Atkinson scored 13 points and hit 3 of 8 outside the arc. Brynn Lauer totaled seven points, four assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Mary Kronenwetter scored seven points in nine minutes and Jillian Silvestri had six points in seven minutes.
Cori Okada led RIT with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Tara Lynch scored 15 points, grabbed eight boards, had five assists, and one steal. Jessica Glaz had 13 points and eight rebounds. Sabrina Wolfe scored 12 points.
Rochester improved to 10-1 overall. RIT suffered its first loss after opening the season with seven straight victories (7-1). Rochester was ranked #9 by D3hoops.com and #11 by the WBCA entering the game. RIT was among Others Receiving Votes in both polls.
RIT took advantage of ice-cold shooting from UR in the first three minutes. The Yellowjackets opened 0-8 from the floor and RIT surged to a 7-0 lead. The Tiger shooting spiraled downward and Rochester staged a 14-0 run over the end of the first period and the first minute of the second to seize a 24-14 lead. The UR seniors scored all 14 points. At halftime, UR led, 41-34.
The Tiger three-point game evolved in the third quarter as the guests hit 3-3 (Wolfe, Glaz, and Sydney Frank). Lynch made two free throws to pull RIT within 54-51 with 3:06 left in the third. Kronenwetter's layup ignited a 6-0 UR run (one free throw from James and three by Leslie) to stretch it back to nine, 60-51. It was 62-55 through three.
Leslie's layup put Rochester up, 66-57, with 7:42 left before the last serious RIT rally. Glaz drained a trey and Okada scored on a breakaway (both baskets set up from Lynch) in less than a minute (66-62 UR with 6:51 left). After Atkinson's third three-pointer put UR ahead, 69-62, RIT scored five straight: a layup and free throw from Lynch, followed by an Okada pullup in the paint. The lead was two, 69-67, with 4:33 left.
In the last three minutes, Leslie scored four points (one jumper in the lane and two free throws), Deming hit a bucket in the paint, Lauer made two free throws, and Lena Ethington sank one. The closing 9-1 spurt insured the victory.
Rochester held a 46-39 edge on the glass. The Yellowjackets scored 32 points in the paint and turned 16 RIT turnovers into 13 points. RIT had 12 offensive rebounds and produced 11 second chance points. Led by Kronenwetter's seven points and six from Silvestri, Rochester had 17 points from its bench.