A win was crucial for the Yellowjacket’s positioning in the Eastern College Athletic Conference championships, and the team came out ready to play against the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans.
In the last regular game of the season, UR dominated visiting CMU in a 64-47 win, bringing their UAA record to 7-7 and the regular season record to 15-10.
UR was in control from the opening minutes, and CMU’s last look at the lead was when the score was at 4-3 at the 18:24 mark.
A three-pointer from junior Jessie Graham brought UR ahead of CMU 6-4, and the Yellowjackets never looked back.
In the first half, UR forced 11 CMU turnovers and allowed a single offensive rebound.
The Yellowjackets held the Tartans to a mere 15 points, for a 28-15 UR lead heading into the break.
The Yellowjackets further extended the lead in the second half, leading the Tartans by as many as 20 points.
Defensive Hustling allowed UR to hold CMU to zero fast-break points for the game.
UR also forced 22 Tartan turnovers, and the Yellowjackets capitalized on the opportunities with 16 points from turnovers.
Senior Kelly Wescott led all scorers and rebounders in the game with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Sophomore Megan Krebbeks contributed with nine points, and senior Ashley Latimer had eight points in the UR win.
Senior Megan Fish had eight points, six rebounds and also dished out a game-high five assists. The Yellowjackets had 11 players put points up on the board.
The victory over CMU will not be the final home game for the Yellowjacket seniors.
UR will be hosting Utica College in the opening round of the ECAC Upstate New York championship on March 2 at 7 p.m.
The Yellowjackets, 15-10, are placed third out of eight teams in the bracket, giving them a home court advantage against the sixth-seeded Pioneers, 17-9.
UR had previously won the ECAC Upstate championships in 2002 and 2003.
A victory over Utica will advance the Yellowjackets to the Upstate Semifinals on March 5 against the winner of the game between 2nd- and 7th-ranked Union College and Hartwick College.
Mclean can be reached at amclean@campustimes.org.
