NEW YORK, N.Y. – Rochester outscored NYU 11-2 over the last six minutes of regulation to force overtime, then made just enough plays in the extra five minutes to pull out a 57-54 victory over New York University at the Coles Sports Center on Friday evening.
The Yellowjackets boosted their record to 15-4 overall, 7-1 in the University Athletic Association. NYU is 8-11 overall, 1-7 in the UAA. Rochester remains tied for first place with Emory University and plays at Brandeis on Sunday. Emory comes to NYU on Sunday.
Danielle McNabb topped all scorers with 17 points. Each team had only one double-figure scorer. Amy Woods and Jackie Walker scored eight points apiece. Breanna Madrazo had six points. Woods pulled down a career high 16 rebounds.
Nicole Lem scored 13 points for the Violets. Melissa Pen, Alexis Doherty, and Rachel Crittenden scored eight points apiece. Riley Wurtz had six points and 15 rebounds, 14 off the defensive glass.
NYU hit 21 of 55 floor shots (.382), five of 16 outside the arc (.313), and 7 of 8 from the foul line (.875). Rochester was 21 of 67 from the field (.313), one of 17 beyond the arc (.059), and 14 of 21 from the line (.667).
Most of the free throw misses came in overtime when Rochester missed its first six shots from the stripe. The sole made free throw was by Kristyn Wright. She made the back end of a two-shot chance with 0:22.1 left and that was the last point of the game.
Wright's layup got the Yellowjackets within 19-15 in the first half before NYU ran off seven straight: a three-pointer by Lem, layups from Doherty, and Megan Dawe. It was 32-23 at halftime.
McNabb's three-pointer pulled Rochester within 42-39 with 9:16 left in regulation. NYU went on a six-point spree in three minutes – two free throws by Doherty, a layup from Wurtz, and two more free throws by Peng.
Rochester asserted itself on the glass and defensively. McNabb hit two jumpers from the key. Lemm scored on a fast break layup for a 50-43 Violet lead with 4:33 left. Rochester scored the final seven points to force overtime.
Walker drove for a layup with 3:44 left. Madrazo sank both ends of a one-and-one with 1:24 remaining (47-50). After NYU missed in the last 45 seconds, McNabb drove baseline and passed the ball to Woods. She twisted in for a layup, drew the foul, and knocked down the free throw with 0:33.7 left.
NYU was called for a shot clock violation with 3.4 seconds left. After a timeout, Walker tried to throw a fullcourt pass. It went out of bounds without touching anyone and NYU got the ball under its own basket. The inbounder found Wurtz who tried a long three from right wing that rattled in and out at the buzzer.
Layups by McNabb and Walker put Rochester ahead early, 54-50. Peng's layup made it a two-point game and the Violets drew even on Doherty's hook shot with 1:01 left. Walker made a layup with 44.7 left. Woods rebounded after the Yellowjackets missed both ends of a two-shot foul at 28.3. She found Wright who was fouled immediately and made the back end of two.
The Yellowjacket defense stiffened and with the final buzzer approaching, a long three-point attempt by Wurtz bounced off the rim and Rochester rebounded as the horn sounded.