CHICAGO – The University of Rochester couldn't find an offensive rhythm and dropped a 63-44 decision to the University of Chicago in women's basketball at the Ratner Athletic Center on Friday evening.
The loss is the second in a row for the Yellowjackets. UR is 6-7 overall, 0-2 in the University Athletic Association. Chicago improved to 10-3 overall and evened its UAA mark to 1-1.
Chicago faced the tougher challenge heading into the game. UC was ranked in the top 10 in Division III last week before the Maroons lost their home UAA opener to Washington-St. Louis last Saturday. That loss dropped UC nine spots in the poll to #17.
Ironically, Rochester matched its shooting percentage from one week ago when the Yellowjackets lost to Emory University in the Palestra: .313 (20 of 64). Chicago didn't match Emory's .500 shooting performance, but the Maroons did hit .381 (24 of 63). UC made three of 10 outside the arc – all by Jamie Kockenmeister. She scored 15 points. Rochester made just one of nine three-point shots – a trey by Lauren Foley midway through the fourth quarter.
Lena Ethington led Rochester with 12 points and 15 rebounds. It is her fourth double-double – all coming in the last five games. Shannon Losieau scored nine points and blocked two shots. Julianna Okoniewski scored six points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked a career-best five shots.
Taylor Lake led Chicago with 19 points, 10 in the first quarter when UC jumped ahead, 14-7. Kockenmeister had seven boards to accompany her 15 points. Klaire Steffens had eight points and five rebounds. Olariche Obi grabbed nine boards, but couldn't connect from the field, hitting just two of 13 field goal attempts (five points). Both 'made' buckets were follows of her own misses.
A 7-2 Chicago run pushed the hosts in front by 12, 21-9, midway through the second quarter. Rochester finally found a flow, outscoring Chicago, 11-4, in less than four minutes. Ethington made a layup, then hit a short runner outside the pain. Camryn Fagan sank one free throw. She missed the second, but Okoniewski scored on a putback, Fagan drove for a reverse and Loiseau had a reverse followup. It cut the deficit to 25-20. UC reasserted itself and carried a 30-21 lead into the locker room.
On Sunday, Rochester plays at Washington University. Chicago hosts Emory. Brandeis and Case Western Reserve both improved to 2-0 in the UAA with victories. Brandeis won at Carnegie Mellon Friday and Case posted a homecourt win over NYU. CMU and CWRU come to the Palestra in one week's time.