Box Score
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (December 1, 2011) – The Women's Basketball team advanced to the Wendy's College Classic final for the third consecutive time after defeating the RIT Tigers 63-48.
The Raiders have now made it to the championship five times, winning twice. The Raiders last won the tournament in 2004.
The Tigers played it close in their first ever semi-finals appearance, as the Tigers led 12-10 with seven minutes to go in the first half.
Ashley Cianfriglia would score five consecutive points to give the Raiders a 15-12 lead, their third lead of the half, with six minutes left.
The visitors would go on a 7-0 run late in the half to extend the lead to 22-14. The Tigers would score six unanswered to make it a 22-20 Raider lead before
Lindsay Kendall made a lay-up with a minute to play.
The Tigers' Kayla Wheeler hit a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left to make a 24-22 Raiders lead going into halftime.
Leslie Havens led all scorers with 11 points in the first half. Kendall led the Raiders with eight points. The Tigers out-rebounded the Raiders 28 to 20 while the Raiders force 12 turnovers to the Tigers' seven. Both teams shot poorly from the field with as the tigers shot 28% as the Raiders were slightly better at 33%.
To start the second half, the Raiders went on a 7-0 run to take an early 29-22 lead. The Tigers would continue to keep it close as the Raiders couldn't make it a double-digit lead until Kendall hit a pair of free throws to make it a 45-35 Raiders lead with 10:37 to go.
Cianfriglia hit a three with 7:51 left to make it a 50-37 Raiders lead. A minute later, Cianfriglia stole the Tigers in-bounds pass and made an easy lay-up to make it a 54-39 lead.
The visitors would extend the lead to 15 after Kendall made a lay-up with 4:38 left in the game, giving the Raiders a 58-43 advantage.
Down the stretch the Raiders kept the game in control en route to the victory.
Kendall led all scorers with 22 points for the Raiders.
Sydni Lester finished with seven rebounds. The Raiders finished the games shooting 36% from the field, making 25 of 70 shots.
The Raiders improve to 6-2 and will face an undefeated University of Rochester squad in the final on Saturday at 5:30pm at RIT's Clark Gymnasium.
