CLEVELAND, OH – Rochester pulled off one of its most significant comebacks of the season when the Yellowjackets rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat Case Western Reserve, 75-69, in overtime on Friday night.

With the win, Rochester boosted its record to 19-4 overall, 9-3 in the University Athletic Association. The Yellowjackets remained one game behind Washington University, which won at Brandeis.  CWRU is 7-16 overall, 2-10 in the UAA. One of the Spartan wins was against NYU, two weeks ago in Cleveland.

Three women scored in double figures for Rochester, but contributions and big plays came from all over the floor. Al Leslie scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Lauren Deming had 13 points and nine boards. Brynn Lauer scored 16 points, grabbed seven boards, and handed out six assists. Kayla Kibling scored eight boards and had six rebounds. Tylar Guerrieri had eight rebounds to accompany four points (all at the line). She had one of the most significant offensive boards in the game. 

UR used a 9-1 run in overtime to push ahead, 73-67, after two free throws by Lauer with 24 seconds left. Emily Young made a layup for CWRU with just under 17 seconds left. After a timeout, the Spartans fouled Lauer who missed both shots. Guerrieri ran down the rebound on the baseline, drew a foul, and knocked down two more shots to make it a two-possession game with 13 seconds to go.

The game turned in the third quarter. A three-pointer by Alex Roth and a layup from McCoy pushed CWRU into a 46-34 lead. Rochester outscored Case, 16-3, through the remainder of the third period, Deming made two from the line. Mary Kronenwetter made a layup and Sarah Kaminsky knocked down a three-pointer from left wing (46-41 CWRU). Hilary Hellman made one free throw and Kara Hageman drove for a layup, extending the Spartan lead to eight, 49-41, with 2:26 to play.

Kibling sank a trifecta from the top of the key. Guerrieri made two free throws, Kronenwetter spun for a layup in the paint and Deming curled through the lane for a baby hook just before the buzzer. That outburst put Rochester ahead for the first time, 50-49.

The Spartans did not fold. Hellman opened the third quarter with a trey. Hageman made a conventional three-point play and Young scored on a layup. CWRU led, 57-52, with 6:40 left in the game. The teams traded points on two possessions with McCoy's layup keeping the hosts ahead, 61-57. Rochester replied. Kaminsky drove for a layup. So did Lauer tying the score at 61-61. One of two from the line by Deming put Rochester ahead by a point, but Hellmann matched her, hitting one of two. In the closing seconds of regulation, Kibling missed a perimeter jumper with three seconds left. CWRU rushed the ball downcourt, but McCoy misfired on a runner just before the horn. 

Rochester got off to a poor shooting start and host Case Western Reserve took full advantage. The Spartans broke away from an 11-all tie midway through the first quarter, went on an eight-point run, and led, 19-12 after one quarter.

By halftime, CWRU had 41 points on 42% field goal shooting and a solid rebounding effort coupled with good defense. CWRU held Rochester to 28% from the floor and outrebounded the Yellowjackets, 25-19. 

Leslie sank a hook shot to tie the score at 8-8 and Jillian Silvestri connected on a three-pointer from the right corner to knot the score at 11-11. That's when CWRU seized control. 

McCoy and Roth sank three-pointers and Hageman made a layup. That made it 19-11 late in the quarter and one free throw by Silvestri got Rochester within 19-12 after the first 10 minutes.

Kaminsky drove the left baseline for a layup to get Rochester within 23-17, but Rochester's shooting turned cold and CWRU went on a 13-2 run to build a big lead.

Hellman led Case with 17 points, including four three-pointers. Hageman added 15 and 11 rebounds. McCoy and 11 points and nine boards. Young scored 10 points.