#14 Rochester Outlasts Tartans in UAA Opener

Jan. 5 – (ROCHESTER, N.Y.) – In the University Athletic Association opener for the Carnegie Mellon University women's basketball team, the University of Rochester clinged to double-digit lead for most of the second half and finished with a 65-54 victory on Saturday, January 5. The Tartans are now 6-5 on the season while the #14 Yellowjackets improve to 8-1.

Rochester opened the game with a 15-6 run before the Tartans answered with five straight points to pull the score to 15-11 in favor of the Yellowjackets with 13:20 showing on the clock. A fierce defense and press by the Yellowjackets forced the Tartans into 11 turnovers resulting in 18 points for the home team and could be considered the difference in the first period.

Senior guard Leah Feola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Canevin Catholic), in her first start of the year, began the game with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field finding her way to the glass on dribble penetration. The Tartans also kept things close with good rebounding, pulling down 14 for the half and allowing Rochester just 14 of their own.

Junior guard Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) cut the first half deficit to single digits with her second three-pointer of the game with eight seconds to go, allowing Rochester a 40-32 advantage.

The second half started with a Tartan basket by junior post Rachelle Roll (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) but the Yellowjackets were able to use a 13-for-19 performance from the free throw line to keep their advantage for the length of the game.

Carnegie Mellon allowed just five baskets in the second half and scored nine but ball control and free throws by Rochester proved the difference.

Feola finished with a season-high 16 points while Aleski reached double digits for the eighth time this season with 13. Junior post Ashley Rothwell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Alvernia) dropped in 10 points and junior guard Colleen Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Saint John Vianny) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Junior center Julie Marriott led the Yellowjackets with 18 points, eight coming from the line in the second half, and also grabbed eight rebounds. Freshman forward Carol Bernal-Silva followed with 13 points and junior guard Helen Baroody chipped in 11.

The Tartans return to the court on Monday, January 14 to face Bethany College at 7:00 p.m. in Skibo Gymnasium.