The New York University women's basketball team, ranked #4 nationally by
D3hoops.com and #5 by the
USA Today, suffered its first defeat of the 2015-16 season, falling to the University of Rochester
(#10/12) 73-54 on Sunday afternoon, January 17, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
The Violets (13-1, 2-1) fell behind 6-0 to begin the University Athletic Association (UAA) game, but caught the Yellowjackets (13-1, 3-0) 13-12 on Megan Dawe's layup with 3:05 left in the first quarter. NYU was still leading 16-14 when Rochester scored the next four points to take an 18-16 lead after the first quarter.NYU never led again.
"We went up against a very good team, and we've had some bad habits that caught us today," said NYU Head Coach
Lauren Hall-Gregory.
Rochester incresed its lead to eight points, 26-18, with 8:08 left in the second quarter. However,
Liv Linebarger's three-pointer with 1:54 left brought NYU to within 34-32 at halftime.
The Yellowjackets got off to a quick start in the second half, opening the third quarter on a 14-3 run to take a 13-point lead, 48-35. The Violets responded by scoring the next six points to pull within 48-41. However, Rochester re-opened a nine-point lead, 52-43, after three quarters.
NYU pulled to within five, 52-47, on Dawe's jumper with 8:48 left in the game. But, that was as close as the Violets would get as Rochester outscored NYU 21-7 the rest of the way.
"This is not the end of the world," Hall-Gregory added. "This is the UAA, and you're probably going to lose some games along the way."
Rochester's defense was stifling throughout the contest, holding NYU to 30.8% (20-65) shooting from the field and only 15.8% (3-19) from beyond the arc while blocking seven shots.
NYU forced 25 Yellowjacket turnovers and recorded 16 steals in the game.
HIGHLIGHTS:- Dawe led the Violets with 16 points.
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Amy Harioka was the other NYU player in double-figures, finishing with 13 points.
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Riley Wurtz contributed team-highs of nine rebounds, sevens assists and five steals.
Kaitlyn Read also had five steals to go with nine points and five rebounds.
- Alexandra Leslie led Rochester with 30 points and nine rebounds.
"It's a marathon, not a sprint," Hall-Gregory concluded. "So, we've just got to take a breath and get back at it in practice this week."
The Violets return to action this Friday, January 22, when they travel to the Windy City to take on the University of Chicago. Tipoff is set for 6:00 pm Central time.
