Rose-Hulman Rallies Past Brescia In Zimmerman Classic Consolation Game

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Rose-Hulman Engineers heated up from distance in the second half of the 2011 Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic women's consolation game, sparking a 21-point turnaround and leading to a 72-63 victory over Brescia.

Rose-Hulman, which lost in the opening round a day earlier to host Wittenberg, improved to 3-8 on the season. Brescia, which lost to Wilmington the previous day, dropped to 6-10.

The Engineers got off to a slow start and trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half. The margin was 39-27 at halftime as Rose-Hulman shot 40 percent from the field and committed 10 turnovers, compared to three for Brescia.

Despite foul trouble for center Olivia Moore, Brescia appeared to have all of the momentum going into the final 20 minutes. The Bearcats shot 47 percent from the field in the first half, including a solid 7-of-16 from three-point range.

The second half was a complete turnaround. Both teams were hampered by foul problems that shortened an already thin bench, but the Engineers found their touch from long range, hitting 6-of-9 three-pointers and 15-of-20 free throws in the second half alone.

Rose-Hulman trailed until the six-minute mark of the second half, when Alisa Dickerson and Heather Finnell hit back-to-back three-pointers to five the Engineers a 55-53 advantage. Rose-Hulman hit 10-of-12 free throws in the final two minutes, including a perfect 6-of-6 from Dickerson, who finished with a game-high 26 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.

Kelsey Ploof added 18 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with six minutes left in the game. Finnell chipped in 14 points and seven boards with all four of her made shots from the field being three-pointers.

Brescia was paced by Hollie Anson with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. Moore fouled out in just 22 minutes, finishing with five points and four rebounds a day after going for 18 points and a tournament-record eight blocked shots.