GENEVA, N.Y. – Rochester put on a late-game push with a 14-4 run to get within four points before host William Smith prevailed, 74-69, in women's basketball at Bristol Gym.
The Herons made seven of eight from the foul line in the last 59 seconds as the Yellowjackets needed to foul after scoring. William Smith hit 15 of 19 from the stripe in the second half (78.9%) and was 23 of 32 (71.9%) for the game.
Rochester couldn't get untracked at the foul line. The Yellowjackets were five of 12 for the afternoon (41.7%), two of eight in the second half.
William Smith won its sixth straight game and improved to 7-2. The win streak is the longest for the Herons in three years. Rochester evened its record at 5-5.
This was the opener of a three-game road trip for the Yellowjackets. They will play in Virginia at Averett College on Wednesday afternoon, then continue to Atlanta where they will play at Emory University on Saturday. That's opening day for the University Athletic Association.
Loren Wagner led Rochester with 16 points, hitting eight of 12 from the field. She also pulled down six rebounds and registered two assists. Blair Landolfi scored a career high 15 points, making five of eight from the floor (including her sole three-point attempt), and four of seven from the stripe. Landolfi grabbed eight rebounds, one shy of her career high and added four assists.
They were the only double figure scorers for Rochester. Ally Zywicki scored eight points and handed out a game-high six assists. Danielle McNabb scored eight points and scrapped for seven rebounds.
Sarah Kaminsky scored seven points and made four assists in 29 minutes. Katie Weiner scored five points. Danie June saw her first action of the season. She logged 16 minutes and scored four points.
Erin O'Brien led William Smith with 17 points. Chloe Hayter had 16 points. Jacqueline Murphy posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sasha Borenstein, who sank nine three-point goals in a Friday road win at Cortland, scored 11 points. She was one of three beyond the arc.
Rochester scored 30 of its 35 second half points in the paint. William Smith scored 14 points in the paint after intermission. At halftime, the Herons held a 20-10 advantage in that stat. Rochester committed 10 second half turnovers leading to 10 WSC points.
The Yellowjackets opened quickly. With Landolfi, Zywicki, and Kaminsky all knocking down threes, Rochester sprinted to a 17-8 edge in the first six-plus minutes. The UR shooting turned cold and William Smith ran off an 18-2 burst to build a 26-19 lead with 6:41 left in the half. Down 29-21, Rochester ran off eight straight – a free throw and basket from Weiner, a trey by McNabb, and a jumper from Tylar Guerrieri – that forced a 29-all tie with 1:54 left.
William Smith went back up by five, 36-31, on Lauren Brustein's layup, before Zywicki canned a three from the wing in the final seconds. It was 36-34 at the half.
In the second half, McNabb hit a three and Wagner made back to back baskets for Rochester to nudge in front, 41-38. William Smith went on a longer run this time, 23-6 over 10 minutes, and moved to its widest lead, 61-47, with 6:46 to play.
June's jumper 12 seconds later ignited a 14-4 run that pulled the Yellowjackets within 65-61. McNabb and Wagner scored in the lane. Kelsey Hurley drove for a layup. Kaminsky made a layup and after William Smith missed, Landolfi rebounded, found Hurley with the pass, and Hurley fed Wagner for another layup. Kaminsky stole the ball in the backcourt and threw it to Hurley for a layup that drew the Yellowjackets within 65-61.
William Smith regained its composure and sealed the win with sound free throw shooting.
