Furious Second Half Rally For Rochester Downs Women's Basketball

(Rochester, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team held their largest lead of the season, but a second half rally by the Rochester Warriors overcame that lead Wednesday evening in Rochester.

The game's first points were scored by Taedom Stein on a layup, and Riley Merryfield added a three point shot just moments later to expand the early lead.  Rochester would score a couple baskets of their own, but Cleary would get hot from behind the arc to expand the lead.  Amy Jackson and Rylee Thomas both would make three pointers at the end of the opening ten minutes, giving Cleary an 18-7 first quarter lead.  Rylee Thomas would add to the Cougar lead in the second quarter on a second made three pointer.  Cleary's defense continued to wreak havoc on the Warriors, as the Cougars forced 15 first half turnovers.  Cleary would get their largest lead of the game late in the half, when Hannah Covert hit a three with just over two minutes to play to make the score 36-18.  The Warriors would hit a three themselves late, but the Cougars held a 36-21 lead at the break.

The second half was a reversal of the first, as the Warriors switched defenses, forced turnovers of their own, and started to make some shots.  Rochester would start the half on a 16-2 run, and held a six point advantage going into the final quarter.  Cleary would throw everything they had at the Warriors, but Rochester would continue to make shots and plays down the stretch, as the Warriors went on to win 71-59.

Taedom Stein had a team high 12 points to go with 7 steals, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Riley Merryfield would add 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.  Hannah Covert added 9 points off the bench for the Cougars.  Every Cougar scored at least 3 points in the game.

Cleary falls to 4-17 overall, 4-11 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back on the road on Saturday, February 3, when they travel to Adrian to take on the Siena Heights Saints.  The game will get underway at 3:00 PM.