CHICAGO, IL- Sophomore
Breanna Madrazo scored a career high 20 points to lead the University of Rochester women's basketball team to a 58-37 win over the University of Chicago at UC's Ratner Athletic Center on Friday night.
The Yellowjackets (16-5, 8-2 UAA) rebounded from a tough loss at Brandeis University on Sunday with strong play on the defensive end, holding Chicago (7-14, 3-7 UAA) to season lows in points (37) and field goal percentage (25.4%). Rochester also held a big advantage on the glass with a 50-39 rebounding edge.
Madrazo connected on 9-11 from the floor including two 3-pointers. She was the only Yellowjacket in double figure scoring, leading 10 different players who scored.
Chicago was paced by Claire Devaney who had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It was Devaney's third straight double-double. She was the only Maroon player to reach double digit points.
Rochester got off to a quick start to the game, making six of its first nine shots, building a 16-11 lead six minutes into the game.
UR got the lead up to nine after another 3-pointer from
Paige Aleski with 4:24 remaining in the half. The four trey's in the half matched UR's output from behind the arc in the previous two games against NYU and Brandeis combined (4-40). Rochester shot great from the field in the first half, connecting on 48% of its shots (12-29).
Chicago went on a cold spell for the last 10:35 of the half, only making one field goal, a three by Jenna Lillemoe with just three seconds left. At the break, Rochester held a 11 point lead at 32-21.
Both teams came out of halftime struggling to find their touch, with both UR and UC combining to score six points in the first six minutes of the second half.
The Rochester lead then ballooned to 19 after three consecutive treys by Yellowjacket sophomores
Ally Zywicki and Madrazo who made two from long distance. With 6:25 left, UR held a 50-31 advantage. The 3-pointers ignited a 17-2 run over six minutes late in the game to put the Maroons away.
Other top performers for the Yellowjackets were the post combo of
Amy Woods and
Loren Wagner who combined for eight points and 20 rebounds. Senior
Jackie Walker added 6 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists while Zywicki finished with eight points. The senior class of Woods, Walker and
Kristyn Wright earned their first win in Chicago over the Maroons.
Rochester earned its first sweep over Chicago since 2006 and now trails in the all-time series by 10, 32-22. UR earned just its sixth win in 27 tried in the windy city.
Sunday is a huge game for the Yellowjackets as they continue the Midwest UAA road trip at Washington-St. Louis. Wash U, Rochester and Emory are all tied for 1st place in the UAA standings at 8-2 after the WU Bears upended Emory on Friday night 65-54. The game tips off at approximately 2 pm central time.
