Women's Basketball News Releases
Paczosa, Cecchetti post double-doubles in 66-62 win over Loras
Coming up - Wednesday, Feb. 18, vs. Central (8-15, 4-10), Small Multi-Sport Center, Mount Vernon, 6 p.m.
Ram review - On the short end of numerous close calls this season, Cornell's perseverance finally paid off in a 66-62 victory over IIAC Tournament-bound Loras Feb. 11 in Mount Vernon.
Kristin Paczosa (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) and Teresa Cecchetti (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) both recorded double-doubles for the Rams (6-17 overall, 1-14 IIAC), who snapped a 20-game losing skid in IIAC play. It was Cornell's first league victory since scoring an 81-65 road win over Central on Jan. 30, 2008.
Cornell had held a second-half lead in nine of its last 11 games prior to breaking through against a solid Loras squad (14-9, 9-5), which is tied for second in the IIAC race.
"I'm real happy for the team and proud of the ladies for their continual fight throughout the season," Cornell head coach Brent Brase said. "Even with the injuries and lack of depth, we have more quality wins than we did last year. The difference in the Loras game was we shot the ball better than we typically do and we limited our turnovers. These have been our two weaknesses all year."
The Rams finished the week with a 71-45 setback against Wartburg Saturday in Waverly.
Wartburg 71, Cornell 45 (Feb. 14, at Waverly)
The Rams turned the ball over 27 times and saw Wartburg shoot 51.0 percent from the field in the road loss.
Tiffany Cowan (Independence, Mo./Truman) and Charlotte Milas (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows) paced the Rams with 10 points apiece. Cowan also gathered seven rebounds and a pair of steals. Paczosa finished with seven points and six boards. Freshman Caitlyn Book (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) chipped in nine points off the bench.
The Knights led 34-21 at halftime and finished a hot-shooting game 11-of-19 from 3-point range. Wartburg outscored the Rams 27-7 over an 11-minute stretch spanning both halves. The Knights won the battle on the boards, 35-28.
Cornell 66, Loras 62 (Feb. 11, at Mount Vernon)
The Rams took control with a 14-2 spurt early in the second half and hung on for their first IIAC home win since Jan. 21, 2008.
Cornell's starting front court of Cowan, Paczosa and Cecchetti powered the Rams to victory, combining for 44 points and 29 rebounds. Paczosa notched her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Cecchetti finished with 15 points and 10 boards, also her third double-double. Cowan led all scorers with 17 points to go with six rebounds.
Freshman Morgan Woods (Milwaukee, Wis./University School of Milwaukee) dished out a season-high six assists for the Rams, who outrebounded the guests 41-33.
Raining threes - Cowan has made three 3-point goals in each of her last five games. She is shooting 44.1 percent (15-of-34) from behind the arc during the stretch. Cowan has hit 49 3-pointers this season and is the school's all-time leader with 139 career 3-point goals.
"Tiffany has found her touch the second half of the season," Brase said. "She has really hit some big shots for us."
