NYIT Defeats Women's Basketball, 70-55

Patchogue, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's College women's (5-5) basketball team fell in defeat to the New York Institute of Techology Bears (7-4), 70-55, in one of their toughest games so far in the young season.  The game marked the first time that these two Long Island schools have played in basketball.  NYIT is an NCAA Division II affiliate and the Eagles a member of Division III.

The Lady Eagles top scorers were junior forward Amanda Bender (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) and senior guard Nicole Redding (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West), each with 14 points. Sophomore guard Christina Cohen (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) added eight points off of two three-pointers.

The women came out strong in the first half, holding the Bears to only 36.7% shooting from the floor. However, the Eagles couldn't find their stroke shooting just 4-of-12 from three-point land. Their resilient play allowed them to go into the locker room own by three, 32-29.

The start of the second half swung in the favor of NYIT as the Bears got out to an early nine-point lead off a jump-shot by Rebecca Lynch and never looked backed. They held the Golden Eagles to only 26 points off of 7-for-23 shooting from the floor for the second half.

St. Joseph's looks to open up the New Year with a home win over the Falcons of Albertus Magnus on this Thursday at 5:00 p.m.  This will wrap-up a four game stretch of non-conference games for the Eagles as they start Skyline Conference play again at Sage on January 7.