PITTSFORD, NY – In an unofficial tournament title matchup, the University of Rochester women's basketball team claimed a victory over Nazareth University, winning 74-58 at the Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout hosted at St. John Fisher University on Saturday.
 
Rochester sophomore Grace Corelli was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after scoring a game-high 19 points in Saturday's win. That total included a 6-for-8 shooting performance and five made 3-pointers to go along with nine rebounds. Corelli added 4 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals on Friday in a win over St. John Fisher.
 
Teammate Bridget Miller was also an All-Tournament selection, recording 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals on Saturday.
 
Both Rochester and Nazareth won their opening games in the event on Friday, setting up Saturday to be essentially a tournament team-title deciding matchup. URochester's 2-0 record at the Mark's Crosstown Shootout was the first by a 'Jacket squad since the 2022-23 season.
 
In the win, the Yellowjackets (2-3) held a big advantage on the glass, outrebounding Nazareth (3-2) 51-29. Included in that total was 19 offensive rebounds for Rochester, leading to 17 second-chance points inside.
 
The opening quarter saw the Yellowjackets shoot 50-percent from the floor and hold an 18-15 lead on the scoreboard.
 
After Molly Benetti scored to open the second quarter scoring to trim the lead to one, Rochester scored the next six points, including a triple from Corelli to extend the lead back to seven, up 24-17.
 
Nazareth pulled back within three, but Corelli drained back-to-back 3-pointers to make the score 30-21 with 4:18 left in the half.
 
Some hot Rochester shooting continued later in the quarter, with Macy Bacon, Miller and Claire Groenewoud combining on a 7-0 spurt to see the Yellowjacket balloon out to 14 points with a minute left before intermission.
 
Half of the Yellowjacket field goals in the third period were from behind-the-arc, as Rochester maintained its lead heading into the final quarter. Overall in the game, Rochester made 10-of-25 from distance, making double-digit trey's for the first time in the 2025-26 season.
 
Four minutes into the fourth, Nazareth got back within eight points before the Yellowjackets fended off the comeback attempt with a 10-5 run. Hazell Nickerson drained a 3-pointer, as did Bacon, with Nickerson and Franki Gomez chipping in 2-point shots to pull Rochester in front by 13 with under 90 seconds remaining, sealing the game away.
 
Nickerson ended with eight points to lead all Rochester bench players. Groenewoud added eight points, while Tia Poulakidas finished with seven points.
 
Nazareth had three players in double-figure scoring, led by Tessa Schuey with 16 points. Katie MacLachlan had 13 points, while Peyton Littlefield added ten.
 
Rochester is back in action on Tuesday night at home against William Smith, with tip-off set for 5:30 pm.