ST. LOUIS – Jackie Walker made a go-ahead layup with 19 seconds to play and followed with a key defensive play in the last two seconds as the University of Rochester defeated Washington University, 72-70, at the WU Field House for the first time.
The Yellowjackets, who are ranked fifth in both the D3hoops.com and WBCA polls, improved to 17-0 overall, 6-0 in the University Athletic Association. Washington, ranked seventh in the D3hoops.com poll, 11th in the WBCA poll, is 14-3, 5-2 UAA. On Sunday, Rochester goes to unbeaten and second-ranked Chicago (17-0, 6-0). Washington hosts Emory.
Even though Rochester had a good lead early in the second half, Rochester coach Jim Scheible knew Washington would battle. "For as young as they are (Washington started two freshmen), they're scary," Scheible said. "This game went back and forth for the last 10 minutes."
Walker's game-winning putback came after Danielle McNabb stole the ball and threw a pass upcourt. Walker missed her layup but grabbed the rebound and put it back in. "McNabb made a great play on the steal," Scheible said.
Washington turned the ball over with three seconds left when Dani Hoover stepped on the baseline. After a timeout, UR's Ally Zywicki tried to inbound against pressure. Her pass would have gone out of bounds on the Rochester end and given the Bears the ball under their own basket. Walker got to it and deflected it to start the clock. Melissa Gilkey's long shot was an airball at the buzzer.
"I'd be lying to you," Scheible said, "if I said (the win) wasn't a big deal." Rochester was 0-23 in the WU Field House coming into the game.
"The adrenaline was pumping," Walker said. "You could hear our bench. At the end, we just wanted to get the ball in, hold it, and wait for the foul."
Walker finished with 13 points and five rebounds. She was one of five double-figure scorers. Jodie Luther led UR with 15 points and seven rebounds. Kristen Wright had 10 points. McNabb and Amy Woods scored 10 points apiece. Luther surpassed the 1,000-point barrier, becoming the 12th player to top the figure. She has 1,005.
Hoover scored 17 points for the Bears. Gilkey had 14 points and Alyssa Johanson scored 12 points.
A year ago in St. Louis, Rochester led Washington by four points in the final minute, only to see the Bears rally to tie the score. Washington won in double overtime.
"Last year was rough," Walker said. "This was everything we were looking for."
Washington led early, going up 14-5 after eight minutes on a three-pointer by Claire Schoeperkoetter. Walker hit two treys in 49 seconds to key a 9-0 run that tied the score at 18. A layup from Woods later in the half started an 8-0 burst for a 32-26 lead that eventually grew to seven, 34-27. It was 34-29 at the half.
Four free throws from McNabb put Rochester ahead, 51-39, with 13:21 left. Washington eventually tied it on Gilkey's free throw with 5:32 remaining. Luther made two free throws with 93 second remaining for a 70-68 lead, but Gilkey's layup tied the score with 1:10 left.
In a week's time, they get to do it all over again, this time at the Palestra.