Alwardt hit a trey in OT to complete the UR scoring.

Women Tied for Second in UAA After OT Win

Melissa Alwardt scored 19 points and Kate Agan(Elmira Lady Express) added 10 as the University of Rochester outlasted the University of Chicago, 54-52, in overtime at the Louis Alexander Palestra.

It is Rochester’s second straight victory over a top-25 team. Chicago (13-5, 5-2 University Athletic Association) is ranked 23rd in the WBCA poll and 25th by d3hoops.com. On Friday, Rochester defeated third-ranked Washington University. The Yellowjackets (15-3, 5-2) are tied for second in the UAA race with Chicago behind Washington (16-2, 6-1). Rochester plays at Washington next Friday night and visits Chicago next Sunday.

Chicago took a 49-44 lead with 1:59 left in regulation when Molly Hackney made a layup. Agan made two free throws at 1:26 (49-46). Taylor Simpson missed a jumper for Chicago with 25 seconds left. Alwardt made three free throws with 16 seconds left to tie the score. Jamie Stinson missed a layup for Chicago with three seconds left and Simpson’s follow at the buzzer was off the mark.

Jodie Luther made two free throws early in overtime for Rochester but Simpson’s layup tied the score at 51. Alwardt hit a pull-up three-pointer for a 54-51 lead with 3:11 left. Simpson made one free throw with 2:44 left. Chicago was 0-8 from the floor after that and Rochester was 0-1. Stinson’s jumper with two seconds left was knocked out of bounds by Rochester. After each team called timeout, Hackney’s layup missed at the buzzer.

Hackney was the only Chicago player in double figures (10 pts.). She also had eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Simpson scored nine points, had eight rebounds, and three steals.