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Wheeler_SJFC_JG
62
Winner RIT RIT 2-2
60
St. John Fisher FISHER 2-3
Winner
RIT RIT
2-2
62
Final
60
St. John Fisher FISHER
2-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
RIT RIT 30 32 62
St. John Fisher FISHER 28 32 60

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Stephen Jaynes - Sports Information Director

Women's basketball beats St. John Fisher in opening round of Wendy's College Classic

Tigers win first ever first round Wendy's game

Click for Box Score

PITTSFORD, NY -- For the first time in the history of competing in the Wendy's College Classic, the RIT women's basketball team came out winners in the first round. The Tigers (2-2) used a late rally to defeat St. John FIsher (2-3) 62-60 in the opening round of the 19th Annual Wendy's College Classic at Kidera Gym on the campus of Nazareth College on Tuesday evening.

"We are turning the corner," said RIT Head Coach Amy Reed. "This is a year of firsts for us, and this is just one step."

RIT's #Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa)# converted the old fashioned three-point play with 10 seconds to play in regulation to give the Tigers the lead. On Fisher's next possession, Wheeler stole the ball from Portia Velasco to seal the win for the Tigers.

Wheeler finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for RIT, who advance to the semifinals for the first time in 19 tries at the Wendy's College Classic.

RIT will face Roberts Wesleyan College in the semifinals on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. at RIT's Clark Gym.

#Courtney Tennant (Cortland, NY/Cortland)# led the Tigers with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while #Anne Wapshare (Blasdell, NY/Immaculata Academy) added 11 points off the bench. (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton)Leslie Havens (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton)# chipped in with 10 points, five assists and four steals.

RIT trailed by as many seven points in the second half, but clawed back, taking a one point lead, 59-58 on a pair of free throws by #Jackie Hom (Newton, MA/Newton South)# with 33 seconds remaining.

Velasco answered back for the Cardinals with a layup to give the Cardinals a 60-59 lead, but the Tigers came right back and got the basket and the made free throw from Wheeler. She calmly stepped to the line and buried the foul shot to give the Tigers the two-point lead.

The Tigers led 30-28 at the half. RIT led by as many as seven points in the first half, shooting 42.3 percent from the floor. Tennant led the Tigers with nine points and eight rebounds. Wheeler added eight points and Havens and Wapshare each tallied five for the Tigers.

RIT shot 40 percent from the floor on the game on 22-of-55 shooting. The Tigers made 5-of-19 3-pointers and were 13-of-17 from the foul line.

The Tigers held a 44-41 rebounding edge and scored 17 points off of 18 St. John Fisher turnovers.