The University of Rochester broke away from some first half sluggishness to produce key scoring runs in a 64-45 victory over St. John Fisher College on Thursday evening in the Louis Alexander Palestra. This was the opening round of the Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout in the women's division.
 
Rochester improved to 7-1 with the victory. The Yellowjackets are ranked #9 in the current D3hoops.com poll and #11 by the WBCA. St. John Fisher is 3-3.
 
On Saturday, Rochester will play Nazareth College at 8 pm. St. John Fisher takes on unbeaten RIT at 6 pm. Matchups are predetermined in the tournament format. RIT defeated Nazareth, 75-56, in Thursday's first game.

Brynn Lauer had four steals in the first half and five for the game. As a group, the Yellowjackets had 13 steals (leading to 12 points) and 14 offensive rebounds which produced 15 second-chance points. Rochester blocked 10 shots, four by Lauren Deming.
 
Fisher had trouble coordinating its offense in the first half. The Cardinals made only one of 13 floor shots in the second period. Rochester strung together a 13-0 run to push in front for good, 28-16. Lauren Foley sank two of her three 3-point goals in the burst. Al Leslie had four points, and Deming scored three points – all from the line.
 
Early in the third quarter, Deming made two free throws, then shortly afterwards sank an acrobatic reverse layup and completed a three-point play with a free throw after drawing a foul on Nicole Robinson. Lizzy Atkinson followed with a 2-2 performance at the line and Rochester moved in front by 20, 39-19.
 
Deming led Rochester with 13 points and Leslie had 10. Foley added nine, and Lena Ethington had six. Fifteen of the 18 players who appeared scored at least one point. Katy McInerney scored 10 points for Fisher. Caroline Robertson had nine and Chelsea Repard scored eight.