Women's Basketball | 12/2/2009 7:53:00 PM
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ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT women's basketball team (3-2) came back from 10 points down with 5:53 left in regulation to take a late lead, but saw the visiting University of Rochester Yellowjackets score the final six points of the game and defeat the Tigers in a thrilling contest, 70-68 at Clark Gym on Wednesday.
RIT trailed 64-54, as Madeline Korber converted a lay-up with 5:53 left. The Tigers responded by going on a 14-0 run over the next 4:37, to go up 68-64 with 1:28 left. With RIT clinging to a 68-66 lead in the final minute, Rochester's Jodie Luther missed the second of two free-throws. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the rebound came right to Rochester's Melissa Alwardt, who took a step behind the 3-point line and buried the decisive shot with 32 seconds left, giving the Yellowjackets a 69-68 edge.
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Leslie Havens (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton)# had a chance to give RIT the lead with 11.8 seconds left, but her running jumper from the right side of the paint bounced off the rim to Rochester's Jackie Walker. Walker made 1-of-2 free throws to give Rochester a 70-68 lead. RIT scurried down the court, giving Havens an open look with three seconds left, but the shot came up short, as the ball bounced away as time expired.
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Danielle Furman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport)# led four Tigers in double figures with 17 points and four assists. Havens chipped in with a season-best 16 points to go along with four boards, four assists, and three steals. #
Sharon Dennis (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool)# recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. #
Anne Wapshare (Blasdell, NY/Immaculata Academy)# also added 10 points. #
Shannon Bean (Manchester, ME/Maranacook Community)# played well off the bench, adding eight points and eight boards.
Luther led the Yellowjackets with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. Alwardt added 13 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Korber added 12 points.
The Yellowjackets won despite shooting just 48 percent (11-for-23) from the line. RIT was 10-for-13 (77 percent).
RIT shot 44.1 percent from the field, but turned the ball over 25 times. Rochester turned the ball over 20 times. Rochester out-rebounded RIT 43-30, with 19 offensive boards.
The Yellowjackets trailed 47-42 with 16:39 left before scoring the next 12 points to take a 54-47 lead with 10:20 remaining.
The Tigers came out and played a strong first half, shooting 50 percent from the field and knocking down all eight attempted free throws to lead 38-36 at intermission.
Furman, Havens, and Wapshare combined for 30 of RIT's 38 first half points. Furman scored 12 in the opening 20 minutes, including a 27-footer with the shot clock winding down late in the half to preserve RIT's lead.
Luther led all scorers with 14 first half points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. Rochester struggled from the foul line early on, making just 1-of-6 in the opening 12 minutes.
RIT returns to action on Saturday, as they open Empire 8 play with a road contest at St. John Fisher. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.
