Four Tartans Score in Double Figures in Setback at Rochester

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team traveled to Rochester, New York, to play the Yellowjackets of the University of Rochester on Friday, February 17 and dropped an 86-79 University Athletic Association (UAA) contest. Carnegie Mellon is now 16-7 and 5-7 in UAA play while Rochester moves to 16-7 and 7-5.

The Tartans shot 41.2% from the field while the Yellowjackets finished the game shooting 43.3%. Carnegie Mellon had four player score in double figures with freshman Katharine Higgins (Montclair, N.J.) leading the way with a career-best 21 points after shooting 4-of-8 from behind the arc. Freshmen Dominique Petach (Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin) and Megan Jaeb (San Jose, Calif./Presentation) also tabbed career highs in points with 18 and 10, respectively. Senior Lisa Murphy (McLean, Va./McLean) finished the game with 12 points.

The Tartans who were edged on the glass, 41-40, were led on the boards by Petach with a career-best eight. Murphy and Higgins each grabbed seven.

Rochester was led by Alexandra Leslie with a game-high 25 points. Lauren Foley finished with 20 and converted 4-of-7 from long range.

The first quarter saw six lead changes which ended in a 13-12 edge for the Tartans following a pair of foul shots by senior Jackie Hudepohl (Saratoga, Calif./Lynbrook (Colgate)) in the closing minute of the frame. After starting the game converting 5-of-6 from the floor, the Tartans were held without a basket over the last 5:11, as they missed eight shots, while the visitor's held the Yellowjackets without a field goal over the remaining 4:07.

The back-and-forth game continued into the second 10 minutes, as the lead changed seven additional times before the Yellowjackets took a 35-34 lead into the locker room. Rochester grabbed a 28-24 lead with three minutes to play in the quarter, which tied the largest lead of the half by either team. Carnegie Mellon responded with a 10-2 run that ended with a 14-foot jumper by Murphy with 52 ticks left on the clock. Rochester then scored the last five points of the half, including a three-point bucket by Foley with eight seconds left.

Rochester converted 6-of-8 from the floor to start the third quarter and used a 13-3 run to lead 48-37 at the midway point. Carnegie Mellon then held the Yellowjackets to one field goal the rest of the quarter and cut the deficit to 55-49 at the close of the frame.

Carnegie Mellon cut the lead to 60-57 following a three-pointer by Higgins, but Rochester responded with eight straight points which made the score 68-57 with six minutes to play.  The Yellowjackets took their largest lead of the game with 2:38 to play at 79-65. Carnegie Mellon wouldn't go down without a fight, as the Tartans connected on three from behind the arc in the last 1:19, but it wasn't enough as Rochester held on for the 86-79 win.
    
Carnegie Mellon will head to Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, February 19 for a 2:00 p.m. tip against the Eagles of Emory University.