Sophomore
Ally Zywicki scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the second half as the University of Rochester rallied for a 56-48 victory over third-ranked Washington University-St. Louis at the Louis Alexander Palestra on Sunday afternoon.
Rochester improved to 10-4 overall, 2-1 in the University Athletic Association. Washington is 12-2 overall, 2-1 in the UAA. Sunday's results leave five teams tied for first place with 2-1 records: Rochester, Washington, Emory, Carnegie Mellon, and Case Western Reserve.
Washington is ranked third nationally in both the D3hoops.com and WBCA polls. The Bears had a 10-game winning streak snapped. Washington edged Emory, 56-53, in overtime on Friday night.
Zywicki added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Jackie Walker had nine points, 11 rebounds, two blocked shots, and two steals.
Loren Wagner scored nine points, had two blocks, six rebounds and four steals.
Melissa Gilkey posted a double-double for Washington with 16 points and 14 rebounds. She had two blocked shots and one steal. Alyssa Johanson scored six points for Washington. No other player scored more than five.
In the second half, Rochester did a better job of controlling the ball (four turnovers after nine in the first 20 minutes). The Yellowjackets had seven steals in the second half off nine Washington turnovers and that led to eight points. Rochester also scored seven second-chance points in period two.
Four Washington players contributed to a 9-2 run in the first half that gave the Bears a 24-15 advantage. Washington led, 28-19, at halftime. Gilkey scored seven points in the first half and Katybeth Biewen scored four.
Two free throws midway through the second half kept Washington in front, 38-36, with 9:22 left in the game. Rochester went on a 13-4 run over the next seven minutes to push ahead, 49-42. Walker's three-pointer gave Rochester is first lead, 39-38, with 9:04 left. A layup from
Amy Woods gave Rochester a 41-38 lead before Johansen made consecutive layups for a 42-41 Bears lead at 6:52.
Rochester answered with eight straight points: a mid-range jumper from
Breanna Madrazo, a three-pointer by Zywicki, one free throw from
Danielle McNabb, and a driving layup by Zywicki after a steal.
Lucy Montgomery sank a three-pointer from right wing to pull Washington within 49-45 with just over two minutes to play. Rochester sank seven of eight from the foul line in the last 40 seconds to seal the win. Zywicki was 4-4, Woods 2-2, and McNabb 1-2.
