Five players contributed to a 15-2 run early in the second half as the University of Chicago rallied to defeat the University of Rochester, 68-55, in a matchup of top-five women's basketball teams at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
Chicago, which is ranked No. 2 by both D3Hoops.com and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, improved to 20-0 overall, 9-0 in the University Athletic Association. The Maroons hold a three-game lead in the UAA standings over both Rochester (17-3, 6-3 UAA) and Washington (16-4, 6-3). Rochester is ranked No. 5 in the D3hoops.com poll, No. 6 by the WBCA. Washington (No. 8 D3hoops.com, No. 13 WBCA) defeated Rochester Friday night, then lost to Emory University in Atlanta on Sunday.
Morgan Herrick hit a jumper and a layup in the burst which pushed Chicago into a 46-40 lead with 10:54 left. Taylor Simpson sank a three-pointer in the run. Meghan Herrick made a layup. Hannah Ballard and Morgan Donovan each sank two free throws.
Rochester got within four points twice – the last time at 48-44 on a layup from
Loren Wagner with 9:02 to go. Chicago extended the lead to nine and the closest the Yellowjackets got after that was five points twice. In the last 90 seconds, Chicago made nine of 10 from the line – four by Joann Torres, three by Simpson.
Morgan Herrick led all scorers with 19 points, hitting 9 of 12 from the floor. Meghan Herrick scored 13, and Simpson had 10.
Kristyn Wright led Rochester with 12 points.
Jodie Luther scored 11. Wagner finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Rochester put together a couple of flurries in the first half to take a 31-25 lead at intermission. Morgan Herrick's three-pointer put UC up, 16-11, with 12:35 left. Luther made two free throws to ignite an 8-0 run, ending on a
Paige Aleski three-pointer for a 17-16 lead.
Consecutive three-pointers from Aleski and Wright plus a conventional jumper from
Ally Zywicki helped Rochester forge in front, 29-22, with 2:49 left in the half.
Chicago shot 46% for the game (26-57), 58% in the second half (15-26). Rochester shot 27% for the game (18-66), 22% in the second half (7-32).
