CHICAGO - The University of Chicago feasted on a Rochester cold spell late in the third quarter to pull away enroute to a 72-53 women's basketball victory on Friday evening.

Rochester drew within three points, 38-35, after Lauren Foley canned a three-pointer. That came after Alexandra Leslie made two layups and Lauren Deming hit a jumper. It was the closest UR was since near the end of the first half.

Chicago ran off 10 points in the next three minutes to take a 48-35 lead. Rochester was scoreless for four minutes and 25 seconds until Mary Kronenwetter made a layup.  Over the last 6:25 of the period, Rochester was outscored, 18-4. The Yellowjackets made two of eight field goal attempts in that time and turned the ball over six times.

That played into Chicago's up-tempo, flailing defense. Rochester committed 26 turnovers leading to 25 Chicago points. The Maroons gave the ball away 15 times and Rochester produced 10 points. The Yellowjackets also had 10 second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds.

Leslie led Rochester in scoring with 21 points. She hit 10 of 14 floor shots, including her sole three-point attempt of the game. She added nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Foley was second in scoring with nine points, all coming on three three-pointers. Deming had six points and five rebounds. Kronenwetter scored six points and hauled down seven rebounds.

Britta Nordstrom led Chicago with 21 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Four of the five UC starters had three steals. Olariche Obi supplied eight points and 12 rebounds. Mia Farrell and Taylor Lake had 11 points each off the bench.

Rochester made 22 of 66 field goal attempts (.333). The Yellowjackets were five of 18 outside the arc (.278). CHicago sank 30 of 67 field goal attempts (.448) and two of 12 beyond the arc (.167).

Chicago led 14-8 after one. Rochester made a charge late in the second quarter. Thanks to a pair of layups from Leslie and a three-pointer from Brenna James, Rochester pulled within 25-24 with less than three minutes left in the quarter. Lena Ethington made a jumpshot as did Kronenwetter to put Rochester ahead, 26-25, with 53 seconds left in the quarter.

Nordstorm drove for a layup to restore the Maroon lead. Then a defensive rebound and outlet pass led to Obi's fastbreak layup. Nordstrom finished it off, stealing the ball and driving for a layup to beat the buzzer and give UC a 31-26 halftime cushion.