Visiting Middlebury College posted a strong fourth quarter to rally for a 67-62 victory over the University of Rochester women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at the Louis Alexander Palestra in the consolation round of the annual Chuck Resler Invitational.
 
Middlebury (1-1) outscored Rochester (0-3) 24-10, over the final ten minutes to turn a 9-point deficit into a 5-point win.
 
The Yellowjackets gained their lead with a hot-shooting third period, with the team combining to make 9-of-11 shots (82%), including 3-of-4 (75%) from distance. That, coupled with Middlebury's 5-for-15 quarter (33%) saw Rochester outscore the Panthers 22-12.
 
UR used a 10-1 run to end the third quarter to lead 52-43 after three. Five different players scored in the run, with Macy Bacon and Peyton Jones giving the Yellowjackets their biggest lead of the night.
 
In the fourth, Middlebury's defense forced Rochester to go cold from the floor, not making a field goal for the first seven minutes of the period. Over that span, the Panthers went on an 11-2 spurt to tie the game at 54-all.
 
Bridget Miller hit a layup off a Claire Groenewoud assist to put the 'Jackets back on top, but Middlebury's Calie Messina answered with a 3-pointer to put Middlebury back in front with 2:14 remaining.
 
Two Panther free throws cushioned the lead before Groenewoud made a bucket in close to move the score to 59-58 with less than 90 seconds left.
 
Middlebury's Messina made another huge triple on its next possession, regaining a 4-point lead with 1:09 on the clock before Grace Corelli hit a jumper to trim the lead back down to two.
 
At the other end a foul put Gabby Stuart at the line for two, and she made both to regain the two-possession lead, but a strong inbounds play from Groenewoud to Tia Poulakidas led to a layup to get Rochester back within two points with 20 ticks remaining.
 
The Yellowjackets fouled and Teagan Lind was sent to the line for a pair of free throws, but missed both giving Rochester a chance to tie or take the lead.
 
After advancing the ball on a timeout, Rochester inbounded towards Poulakidas again, but the pass was intercepted by Brooke Collins for a key turnover with time ticking down. Stuart was fouled again and drained two more free throws to seal the game away.
 
Another 'Jacket turnover on a drive to the basket gave Middlebury the ball once again with Stuart making 1-of-2 at the line to reach the final margin.
 
In the opening half, Middlebury jumped in front early 17-7 after five minutes of play, but Rochester raced right back with an 11-0 run over four minutes to surge in front by one. Middlebury's Sara Chenette stopped the 'Jacket run with a tip-in at the buzzer to put the Panthers up by a point after ten minutes.
 
The lead stayed under three points throughout the entire second quarter, with the Panthers heading to the locker room up one, 31-30.
 
Overall in the game, Corelli finished as Rochester's leading scorer, finishing with 13 points, adding in five rebounds and four assists. She was the Yellowjackets representative on the All-Tournament Team. Miller scored 12 points and had eight points while Poulakidas finished with nine points for UR.
 
Middlebury's Chenette led all players with 21 points in the game, while three others, Lind (15 points), Stuart (12 points) and Messina (12 points) all finished in double-figure scoring. Lind was the Panthers' All-Tournament team pick.
 
Later in the evening, Springfield College upended SUNY Geneseo 58-53 for the Chuck Resler Women's Tournament title. Springfield's Claire Finney was named tournament MVP, while teammate Carrie Hess was All-Tournament. Representing SUNY Geneseo on the All-Tournament team were Grace Galgano and Maddie McGrane.
 
Up next, Rochester plays in the local Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout next Friday and Saturday at St. John Fisher University. UR plays Fisher on Friday evening before wrapping up the event against Nazareth on Saturday afternoon.