PITTSBURGH, PA – While the high-scoring results may not have been typical of the rivalry, the six-point differential was as Carnegie Mellon University defeated the University of Rochester, 95-89, at Skibo Gym on Sunday afternoon. Eight of the last nine meetings (counting this one) have been decided by less than 10 points.
 
Each team was focused on claiming a victory because a win had different implications for both. A Rochester win would have boosted UR's record to 20-4, 10-3 in the UAA with one game left to play. The Yellowjackets would remain a game behind Washington in the UAA race.
 
If CMU won, the Tartans would boost their overall record to 18-6, 7-6 in the UAA. Carnegie Mellon is trying to build its resume for consideration for one of the at-large (Pool C) bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
 
The win over Rochester on Sunday gives CMU a split with both the Yellowjackets and NYU this year. CMU narrowly lost in St. Louis last weekend to Washington when the Bears staged a fourth-quarter rally.
 
This Saturday, Rochester will host Emory University at 2 pm on Senior Day. UR will carry a 19-5 record into the game (9-4 UAA). Washington won at NYU on Sunday so the Bears have clinched the automatic bid. Carnegie Mellon will host Case Western Reserve.
 
Earlier this season, Rochester defeated CMU, 75-52, in the Palestra. Rochester shot 46% from the floor and held the Tartans to 32%. Rochester had 13 steals off 23 Carnegie Mellon turnovers and produced 20 points. The Yellowjackets won the rebound battle, 40-36.
 
That was all changed this time around. CMU shot 45% from the floor, hit eight three-pointers, was practically perfect at the foul line (25-27, .926) and won the rebound battle, 51-34. CMU's big three of Lisa Murphy (27 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks), Jackie Hudepohl (29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists), and Liza Otto (26 points, four assists) did the majority of the scoring. The trio totaled 36 points and 17 rebounds in the January loss.
 
Lauren Deming, who topped Rochester in scoring vs. CMU  four weeks ago (she had 23), scored a career high 29 points this time. She hit 13 of 19 from the floor, three of six outside the arc. Al Leslie, Kayla Kibling, and Kelsey Hurley scored 12 points each. Rochester shot fairly well, hitting 47% from the floor, 52% outside the arc (12of 23). The foul line was the only place the Yellowjackets struggled – hitting just seven of 15 free throw attempts.
 
Rochester put the three-pointer to good use early, hitting five in the first quarter to take a 24-21 lead. Kibling hit a trey and Jillian Silvestri went 2-2 from the foul line to open a36-29 lead with less than five minutes left in the second quarter.
 
The Yellowjackets went cold, turning the ball over three times and making just one basket in five shots (a layup by Leslie). CMU flourished by scoring 14 points in the UR drought. Jenn Mayberger and Otto hit trifectas. Murphy made two conventional three-point plays. It was 43-38 CMU at the half.
 
Deming went on a 10-point run with her driving layup tying the score at 48-48. Murphy scored eight points, Hudepohl sank a three-poitn goal, and Otto hit a 10-footer in the lane to stretch the home side's lead to 61-50 with 2:50 on the clock.
 
The Yellowjackets got it down to five, 61-56, on a layup from Deming, a lead pass to a fast-break finish by Hurley, and a short right baseline bank by Deming. Hudepohl scored five points – including a trey near the end of the period – and Otto had another 10-footer to offset Deming's third three-pointer of the game. CMU led, 68-59, heading into the last 10 minutes.
 
Rochester did make four three-pointers in the last quarter enroute to 30 points, but the Yellowjackets eventually reached the force-to-foul time and Carnegie sealed it at the stripe, hitting 12 of 14 free throws in the final 1:18.