With three games remaining in the regular season, the women’s basketball team is making every game count.
UR now stands at 6-5 in the University Athletic Association and 15-7 overall. The Yellow-jackets are currently tied for third place in the UAA.
UR avenged earlier losses to conference foes Brandeis and New York University as they rounded out their home schedule this past weekend.
Their final weekend of play at the Louis Alexander Palestra began Friday, Feb. 8, when UR took on the Judges of Brandeis University. The first time the two teams met, UR lost in overtime by a score of 59-58. This time, the roles were reversed, and UR emerged with a 67-66 victory behind thirteen points a piece from sophomore guard Erika Smith and freshman center Megan Fish.
The Yellowjackets trailed early in the game, but rallied back in a game that saw nine ties and seven lead changes to come out with the win.
Fish finished the game with 13 points, eight rebounds, one block, and three assists, while Smith tallied seven boards, four assists, and three steals. Junior forward Anne Gotstein added 11 points.
UR continued its success on Sunday, Feb. 10, with one of its most emotional wins of the season.
In their final home game of the season, the Yellowjackets upset the then No. 12 ranked Violets of NYU 68-66.
A tight game the whole way through, a three-pointer from Smith with 21.8 seconds left put UR over the top. Gotstein then solidified the lead by hitting a free throw with only 8 seconds remaining.
Fish once again led the Yellowjackets, scoring a career high 16 points. Freshman forward Kelly Wescott was the only other UR player in double figures, with 11 points, while Smith added seven.
The win knocked the Violets out of national rankings, and extended UR’s winning streak to three in a row. The Yellowjackets moved up five spots and are now ranked No. 1 in the East Region.
Senior guard and co-captain Jen LaBuda hopes the team’s recent success will help the Yellowjackets in their final performances of the season.
“These wins gave us more confidence, we know we are a really great team,” LaBuda said. “When we play like we are capable up, we can play with anyone in the league.”
This weekend, UR will travel to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland for a 6 p.m. start tomorrow evening. The Tartans are currently second in the UAA, behind Washington University, with a record of 7-4 in the UAA and 16-5 overall record.
On Sunday, Feb. 17, the Yellowjackets take on the Eagles of Emory University with a 3 p.m. start in Atlanta, Ga. At 6-15 overall, the Eagles are in last place in the UAA with an in-conference record of 2-9.
Regardless of records, LaBuda expects tough competition from both teams this weekend.
“Both those teams will be ready to play,” she said. “This is a tough league. You have to come ready to play every single game, no matter who it is, you can’t look past any teams in this league.”
Seferiadis can be reached at jseferiadis@campustimes.org