Courtesy of UR Athletics
The women’s basketball team dropped to 19-5 after losing by one point to Case Western Reserve University on Friday, Feb. 17 and by five on Sunday, Feb. 19 against Carnegie Mellon University. Friday’s match-up ended at 58-57, while Sunday’s finished at 67-62.
In the first half of the Case match-up, the Yellowjackets responded to the Spartans’ drained shots with baskets of their own, keeping a one-point lead, at 25-24, with 2:52 left on the clock. Case then scored eight straight points, putting them up 32-35 at halftime.
The Spartans took charge in the second half, commanding a game-high 12-point lead less than two minutes in. After going on a 20-6 run in the middle of the second half, UR shortened Case’s lead to three, with a score of 50-47.
Spartans guard Evy Iacono fouled UR sophomore guard Laney Ming with 29.5 seconds remaining, allowing her to make two free throws that put the Yellowjackets up one with 57 points to Case’s 56. Iacono, who carried her team throughout the game with a career high 27 points, made her 10th field goal of the night with nine seconds left on the clock, leading her team to victory.
Sophomore center Loren Wagner was the high scorer for UR with 16 points and senior forward Jodie Luther, with 12 points, wasn’t far behind. Both players pulled down seven rebounds and Ming helped out with eight points and four assists.
The Yellowjackets had a higher shooting percentage than the Spartans, making 42.3 percent of their field goals, compared to Case’s 39.3 percent. However, UR went 2-10 from behind the arc, while Case made seven of their 21 three point attempts.
The Carnegie Mellon game came down to the wire as well. The Tartans led 36-31 at the half, before expanding their lead to 54-45 in the second half with 8:24 left on the clock. Two quick shots from UR cut the lead to 54-49 with 7:35 remaining. Carnegie then proceeded to go on a 9-0 run, during which guards Jacquie Shaw and Aspen McKeever made two baskets apiece. Up 63-49, things did not look good for UR, but the Yellowjackets responded with a 9-0 run of their own. Three layups and a jump shot by Luther brought Rochester within three points with 15.5 seconds to play. However, the Tartans sealed the game two seconds later with two free throws from Shaw.
Despite their high scoring performances, Luther, senior guard Michelle Ketcham and sophomore center Danielle McNabb’s combined total of 41 points and 15 rebounds was not enough. Shaw, McKeever and forward Emily Peel combined for 49 points and 19 rebounds, keeping Carnegie just ahead of UR, giving them the win.
The ’Jackets were outshot by 10 percent, making only 28 of their 72 shots, while the Tartans made 26 of 54. UR’s three point woes continued, as well, with the Yellowjackets going 1-10 in second half 3-pointers.
The Yellowjackets’ regular season ends at home on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. with a game against Emory University. This final game has major implications for the postseason, as the teams are currently tied for third in the UAA Conference at 8-5.
Ondo is a member of
the class of 2014.
