Box Score Old Westbury, N.Y.- Despite arguably their best performance of the young 2014-15 season, the Lightning women's basketball team fell to the New York Institute of Technology Bears (3-1) 68-66 on Saturday afternoon.
The Lightning were lead by freshman forward
Britani Bryson (Bethel H.S./ Hampton, Va.) who posted her first "double double" of her college career by shooting 50 percent (6-of-12) from the floor, scoring 12 points and pulling down a game high 15 rebounds.
In a back and forth game that featured three ties and five lead changes the Lightning jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead on a layup by Bryson and three pointer by senior Guard
Taylor Leonard (John A. Coleman Catholic H.S./ Lake Katrine, N.Y.). However the bears converted a 6-0 run of their own to take back the early lead. Midway through the first half the Bears used a 12-3 spurt to take a 32-19 lead at the 6:46 mark. The first half ended with Lightning trailing by seven, 39-32.
The Lightning were able to chip away at the Bears lead when freshman guard
Reighly Melochick (Minersville H.S./ Pottsville, Pa.) hit a clutch three pointer that tied the game at 62-all with 2:40 remaining. Melochick's three was followed up by a
Lillian Chukwueze (Cherry Hill East H.S./ Cherry Hill, N.J.) jumper following a Bears turnover, then a Chukwueze layup to take a 66-62 lead with 1:41 remaining in the contest.
The Bears closed out the game on a 6-0 run over the last 1:40 to preserve the 68-66 win. The Lightning fell to 0-3 on the season following the loss.
Chukwueze finished with a team high 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 from the free throw line. Melochick and freshman guard
Lexi Bruno (Millville Senior H.S./ Millville, N.J.) both tallied nine points of the bench for the Lightning. Leonard knocked down 3-of-5 three point attempts to finish with nine points on the afternoon.
The Lightning will seek their first win on Tuesday, Nov. 25
th, when they travel to West Chester University to face the Golden Rams. Tip-off is set for 6:00 PM.
