ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Freshmen Al Leslie and Lauren Deming combined for 42 points and 26 rebounds as the University of Rochester upended seventh-ranked Washington University, 76-75, at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Sunday afternoon.
It's the second victory in the last nine days over a top 10 opponent for Rochester. On February 6, Rochester defeated eighth-ranked NYU, 72-63. Leslie was a catalyst in both of the wins over the top 10s. She had 28 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists against NYU. This time, she scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Washington.
Deming finished with career bests of 21 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Brynn Lauer scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds, and handed out three assists.
It didn't come easily. Rochester used a late second-half scoring sprint to open a 67-58 lead with just over two minutes remaining. In the last 90 seconds, the Bears got seven points from junior Jordan Thompson and five points from senior Maddy Scheppers. When Thompson hit a 3-pointer from left wing, the lead was down to one, 73-72, with 23.8 seconds left.
Deming made two free throws with 19.9 left and Leslie sank one of two with 7.9 left. That put the lead at 76-72 and offset a 3-pointer by junior Katybeth Biewen just before the final buzzer.
Four of Washington's starters hit double figures. Scheppers scored 20 points. Thompson had 17 and senior Melissa Gilkey added 16 plus eight rebounds and three blocks. Biewen had 10 points and four steals.
Rochester clinched a winning season with the victory. The Yellowjackets are 13-9 overall, 5-6 in the University Athletic Association.
Washington saw a six-game winning streak snapped. The Bears are 20-2 overall, 9-2 in the UAA. They fell into a second place tie with NYU. Both teams are one game behind Chicago. NYU goes to Washington on Friday and Chicago on Sunday. Washington, which defeated Chicago earlier this year, hosts Chicago on February 28 in the season finale.
This was Senior Day on the River Campus. The players did not talk about it that much at Saturday's practice. Washington defeated Rochester, 87-52, in St. Louis four weeks ago. On Friday, the Yellowjackets started slowly and lost to Chicago, 76-66, in the Palestra.
"They (seniors Ally Zywicki and Blair Landolfi) didn't have to say anything," Leslie said. "We knew what happened out there (in St. Louis). We wanted to play our best for them."
Washington's shooters went cold in the last five minutes of the first half. Rochester closed the half on an 11-0 run. Leslie had four points. Sophomore Sarah Kaminsky had three. Deming and Landolfi had rebound layups. Rochester led, 35-24.
The Bears had a miserable first half shooting the ball. They were 10-38 from the floor (26%) and 2-7 outside the arc (29%). Rochester hit 40% in the first half (12-30), only 11% beyond the 3-point line (1-9).
In the second half, the Bears' aggressiveness offensive produced points quickly. The Rochester lead was down to six points after 3:22. Rochester moved back out to a 46-38 lead following a 3-pointer from Kaminsky and one free throw by Leslie. Senior Alyssa Johanson hit a 3-pointer, Gilkey scored on a conventional 3-point play, and Johanson added a runner to bring Washington within 48-46 midway through the second half. The Bears finally moved back in front, 54-52, after three free throws by Scheppers and a 12-footer off the left baseline from Johanson.
Rochester went on a 15-4 run over the next two and a half minutes. Deming hit two 3-pointers and Lauer had one. Deming sank two free throws, Lauer hit a 12-footer, and junior Kayla Kibling sank a runner in the lane. That pushed the lead to 67-58 with 2:39 remaining.
"We didn't play our best (against Washington last time)," Zywicki said. "Our younger girls played great today. Having Al on the floor is big. She draws defenders and gives us a lot of shots."