Tartans Lose Nail-Biter to Yellowjackets 55-49

Mar. 1 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University women’s basketball team came up just short losing 55-49 against the visiting University of Rochester Yellowjackets on Saturday in Skibo Gymnasium. The Tartans, playing in their final game of the season, battled throughout and left everything on the court. Carnegie Mellon had a chance to take the lead with 26 seconds left but sophomore guard Paige Williamson’s (Washington, Pa./Trinity) three-pointer was a tad too long. Carnegie Mellon was forced to foul and Rochester connected on their free throws to preserve their victory.

Carnegie Mellon started the game connecting from three-point range, as junior point guard Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), then junior guard Corey Innes (Commerce, Mich./Lakeland), and finally senior forward Leah Feola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Canevin Catholic) hit from behind the arc in succession. The Tartans held a 14-10 advantage at the 9:53 mark before the Yellowjackets reeled off nine straight points over the next five minutes to lead by five. The Yellowjackets took a six-point lead into halftime at 26-20 with both teams playing tough defense, making baskets hard to come by in the first twenty minutes of action.

In the second half, the Tartans played pressure defense and moved the ball well on offense in addition to collecting numerous offensive rebounds. The Tartans trailed 39-37 after a Williamson jumper at the 7:03 mark. Rochester’s junior guard Helen Baroody responded with two quick three-pointers to make the Yellowjackets’ lead eight points. Rochester increased their lead to 49-40 with 4:21 remaining but the Tartans answered with six straight to pull within three at the 2:26 mark. An Aleski three-pointer pulled the Tartans within two points at 51-49 with under a minute to go setting up Williamson’s three-point attempt.

Feola, in her final collegiate game, led the Tartans with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Junior forward Rachelle Roll (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) added 12 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. Aleski contributed 10 points, Williamson scored eight, and junior guard Colleen Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Saint John Vianny) tallied eight to go with her team-high three assists. Junior forward Julie Marriott led Rochester with 15 points and seven rebounds. Baroody chipped in 12 points in the win.

The Carnegie Mellon women’s basketball team finishes the season with a record of 7-18 and 0-14 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). Rochester moves to 20-5 overall and 10-4 in the UAA.