WALTHAM, MA – The University of Rochester used five three-point plays – four 3-pointers and a conventional shot plus free throw – to rally for a 62-61 victory over Brandeis University on Sunday afternoon.
 
Rochester battled back from a six-point deficit in the last 8:32 to seize the victory. The gamewinning point came at the foul line – one free throw by Al Leslie – and the win wasn't secured until Leslie made a halfcourt interception of a desperation Brandeis pass at the final buzzer.
 
Leslie led the Yellowjackets with 16 points and seven rebounds. Brynn Lauer scored 14 points, including four of eight outside the arc. She added four assists. Emily Lewis had nine points and five rebounds. Sarah Kaminsky scored seven points and added four assists. Rochester is 11-7 overall, 3-4 in the University Athletic Association.
 
Niki Laskaris scored a game-high 17 points for Brandeis (9-8, 2-5 UAA). She hit three 3-pointers, two in the last 2:30 as Brandeis tied the score at 61-all. Hannah Cain scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds for Brandeis. Paris Hodges had eight points and seven rebounds. Heather Cain scored seven points.
 
Brandeis led, 28-27, at halftime. The Judges stretched the lead to six several times in the first four minutes. Leslie made back to back layups for Rochester, pulling the Yellowjackets within 42-40 with 12:24 left. Heather Cain hit a jumper in the lane, then knocked down two free throws.
 Kaminsky had 4 assists.Kayla Kibling sank a 3-pointer from the top of the key for Rochester after Kelsey Hurley fought to keep a rebound alive on the left baseline. Olivia Shaw made two free throws, but Lauer answered with a 3-pointer from right wingt, pulling Rochester within 48-46 with nine minutes left.
 
Brandeis threw the ball away in front of the Judges bench. Rochester was penalized for having six players on the court. The assessed technical foul led to a pair of free throws by Laskaris.  She made two more 30 seconds later, restoring the Judges lead to 52-46.
 
That's when Rochester's flurry of three-point plays started. Lauren Deming connected from right wing. Lauer hit from the left of the key to tie it at 52-52. After Heather Cain sank a 3-pointer from left wing (55-52 Brandeis), Kaminsky tied the score again, this time deep in the left corner.
 
Leslie put the Yellowjackets ahead, getting a layup and adding the free throw after the foul It wazs 58-55 with 4:40 left. Another 3-pointer by Lauer, this one from the top of the key, put Rochester ahead by six, 61-55, with 2:50 to go.
 
Laskaris halved the deficit, draining a trey from left wing. Rochester turned the ball over, but Brandeis couldn't covert. With 1:12 left, the Yellowjackets airballed a trey. Brandeis came down, missed one shot and the ball was batted out to Laskaris to the right of the key. Her 3-pointer tied the score with 40.7 seconds left.
 
Leslie was fouled driving for a layup with 0:23.1 on the clock. She made the second of two shots, giving Rochester the one-point edge. With 2.8 seconds left, Jackson missed a jumper for Brandeis. Blair Landolfi rebounded and was fouled. She missed the front end of the one-and-one. Brandeis rebounded and called time with 0:01.9 remaining.
 
Jackson tried to throw a deep pass from the endline. Leslie intercepted at midcourt and dribbled until the final buzzer sounded.
 
This marked the second consecutive Sunday that Rochester pulled out a victory in the closing seconds. A week ago, Deming hit a runner in the lane with 3.8 seconds left to give Rochester a 56-55 lead over Case. The Spartans were unable to get off a final shot with the lane clogged.
 
Next weekend, turnaround weekend is complete. NYU and Brandeis come to the Palestra for the return matches which launch the second half of the UAA season. NYU is in town on Friday (6 pm), Brandeis on Sunday (2 pm).