From University of Rochester Athletics
Backed by a strong fourth quarter from sophomore Alexis Sestric, who sank four 3-pointers, the University of Rochester women's basketball team posted a 57-45 victory over St. John Fisher College on Wednesday evening at Blue Cross Arena.
Sestric finished with a game-high 21 points, all coming on 3-pointers, as the seven treys established a new career-high. Teammate Julianna Okoniewski ended with 20 points and eight rebounds, shooting 10-of-15 from the field.
Rochester (4-1) exacted revenge from a loss against the Cardinals (3-1) last week, when St. John Fisher posted a 71-66 victory.
The Cardinals were led by Claire Kruszka who had 11 points off the bench, including three triples. Kaitlyn Walker had nine points and 10 boards and Ally Shoemaker and Lauren Robbins each had six points for St. John Fisher.
Rochester was lightning quick out of the gate, as the Yellowjackets surged ahead 12-0 in the opening five minutes. Two Sestric 3-pointers, two baskets from Okoniewski and a Kelsey Stites jumper built the UR lead.
After one, Rochester led 19-12, but the Cardinals were in the midst of a 15-2 spurt which closed the Yellowjackets lead to just one, ahead 21-20. Kruszka had eight points in the run for the Cardinals.
UR struggled from the floor in the second, making just 3-of-13 shots, while SJFC was a shade under 50% for the quarter, eventually heading into halftime up 30-26.
The Cardinals ended up building their biggest lead of the night after two Walker free throws with just under seven minutes to play in the third, leading 35-28.
Okoniewski scored six points in an 11-2 run to close the quarter, while Hannah Lindemuth added a 3-pointer. Two of Haley Dumiak's six points put Rochester up for good, leading 39-37 heading to the fourth.
Leading by six with under five minutes to play, Rochester's Sestric sank triples on back-to-back possessions to grab all the momentum, lifting the Yellowjackets to a 10-point lead, 50-40 with four minutes remaining.
The Yellowjackets ended with a 45-32 edge on the glass, led by Callie McCulley's career-high 15 rebounds. She added five points and four assists. As a team Rochester shot 43% (24-56) for the game compared to just 39% (16-55) for the Cardinals.