WARRIORS TAKEN DOWN BY SECOND HALF RUN FROM LOURDES

SYLVANIA, Ohio - A tough second half doomed the Warriors (17-10, 12-9) against host #13 Lourdes (20-5, 16-5) on Wednesday night in the Russel J. Ebeid Center. After a tightly contested first half, the Warriors fell behind off a big run from the Gray Wolves. 

Gunner Walters led the Warriors in scoring with 19 points, while fellow guard Brody Parker scored 18 off the bench for the Warriors. Brett White added 12 points. Four players scored in double-figures for the Gray Wolves, with guard Joey Holifield leading the way with 20 points. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

• Rochester got off to a hot start, with White and Brandon Michrina knocking down two consecutive threes. The Gray Wolves got back into it with a solid response and regained the lead. Rochester continued to rain in the threes, with Parker knocking down two consecutive threes to kick off his solid night. Bralin Toney added a three of his own off a pass by Walters
• Walters knocked down a glorious three shortly after to help Rochester extend the lead to six, and Toney provided valuable minutes with two buckets of his own. Before the Warriors could expand the lead, Lourdes went on a run to cut the lead down to one behind some tough shots. Parker grabbed a rebound and hit a transition pull-up, but a late response from the Gray Wolves helped the hosts enter halftime with a three-point lead

SECOND HALF

• The Gray Wolves had a strong start out of the halftime break, hitting a few midrange shots to extend the lead. Michrina and Stavros Polatoglou hit jumpers to answer the Gray Wolves, and Walters traded threes with Holifield before a timeout by Rochester. Walters hit a layup shortly after and found White for a big three to cut the lead to four. Walters connected with Caleb Byrd for a layup and continued his half with a layup of his own, but the Gray Wolves found a spark and went on a big run
• Lourdes caught fire and never looked back, with a few back-breaking transition plays on the Warriors. Rochester got a few buckets from Cukaj and White, but the Gray Wolves also tuned in on the defensive end, not giving the Warriors much room to breathe to start a comeback effort

STAT OF THE GAME

Points in the paint made a big difference, with Lourdes winning that category 42-24. 

UP NEXT

Rochester returns home for their final regular season home game against Cornerstone on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. Rochester will celebrate Faith Day during the game. 

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RU Athletics