Al Leslie scored six points to spark a 10-2 surge in the first part of the fourth quarter as the University of Rochester defeated Case Western Reserve University, 66-55, in a women's basketball game at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Friday evening.
 
Leslie scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. It was her eighth double-double of the season. Lauren Deming scored 15 points, Kayla Kibling added 13, and Mary Kronenwetter produced 10 in 11 minutes off the bench.
 
Laura Mummey led CWRU with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Kara Hageman had 13 points and Hillary Hellmann had 10.
 
It was the ninth straight win for the Yellowjackets. They improved to 14-1 overall, 4-0 in the University Athletic Association. Rochester is tied for first place with Washington University whom the Yellowjackets play in one week. UR is ranked No. 7 in the current Division III media poll and ranked No. 10 in the coaches' poll.
 
CWRU is 5-10 overall, 0-4 UAA.
 
Kronenwetter was instrumental in holding off a Spartan charge. Rochester led 33-21 at halftime and opened the lead to 14 points, 39-25 after a Deming layup early in the third quarter. CWRU went on a 9-0 run – six of the points by Mummey – and drew within 39-34 with just under five minutes left in the half.
 
With 3:11 left, Kronenwetter drove for a layup and completed the conventional three-point play with a free throw. Jessica McCoy hit CWRU's onl;y 3-pointer of the game, this one from the left of the key with 2:35 left to pull the visitors within 42-37. Kronenwetter made one of two from the line with 1:38 remaining to stretch Rochester's lead to six, 43-37, heading into the final quarter.
 
The Yellowjackets found some offensive rhythm in the first five minutes of the last quarter. Leslie sank a layup – which was matched by Hageman. Brynn Lauer connected on a three-pointer, Sara Kaminsky made one of two from the line, Leslie hit a six-footer off the right baseline, and then converted a putback for a 53-41 lead.
 
CWRU held a 50-47 advantage on the glass. Five players had six or more rebounds. McCoy had four steals, three blocked shots, and seven rebounds to accompany her nine points. Hageman blocked two shots and grabbed seven boards.
 
For Rochester, Lauer had three assists and five rebounds. Kibling sank three of Rochester's five three-point goals.
 
Rochester will host Carnegie Mellon on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Tartans are ranked No. 20 in the media poll, No. 21 in the coaches' poll.