ROCHESTER – The free throw line paid dividends for Rochester in a close conference win Saturday night over Whitko.

The host Zebras hit 16-of-22 from the stripe in posting a 53-51 league win over the Wildcats.

Whitko went just 10-of-17 from the line in the loss.

The Wildcats led 14-9 after the opening stanza before Rochester took a 21-20 lead at halftime. The Zebras led 33-30 after three quarters of play.

Cagney Craig and Melanie Kelsey each scored 13 points to lead Whitko, which drops to 5-9 overall and 1-3 in Three Rivers Conference play.

Alexa Holland netted a game-high 21 points for the winners. Breanna Paulik had 15 points for Rochester, now 7-7 overall and 2-2 in the TRC.

Whitko hosts Norwell Thursday. Rochester plays at Bremen Tuesday.