Box Score

New York, NY --- The Brooklyn College Women's Basketball team dropped a nail-biter against the Baruch College Bearcats in a CUNY Athletic Conference game earlier today at the ARC Center by a score of 73-72. With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 9-7 overall on the year and 5-2 in conference play; while the Bearcats remain perfect in league play at 7-0 and improve to 14-4 overall on the season.

Down by six, 73-67, with just 1:19 left in the game, the Bulldogs mounted a furious comeback in the final minute behind a three-pointer from senior Ariel Smith and a pair of free throws from classmate Amber Gordon. However, Brooklyn's comeback attempt would fall just short as Baruch, the reigning three-time CUNYAC champions, escaped with the 73-72 victory.

The Bearcats controlled much of the first half and would head into the break with a 36-26 advantage. After an Ashley Allen jumper tied the game at 25 with 4:23 left before halftime, Baruch would close out the half with an 11-1 run. The Bulldogs shot just 25.8% (8-for-31) from the field in the half.

Both teams came out of the half-time break trading baskets through the first four minutes of the game. Down by 12, 45-33, their biggest deficit of the game, with 16:14 left, the Bulldogs utilized an 18-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 51-45 lead, their biggest lead of the game, with 11:39 remaining in the game. The lead would be short lived; however, as Baruch answered with an 11-4 run to retake the lead 56-55 at the 7:51 mark of the second half. The teams would continue to trade baskets back-and-forth down the stretch with neither team able to pull away. Down by two, 66-64, the Bearcats went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead for good.

Junior Lauren Plagainos scored a team-high 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field, including going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Plagainos also dished out a team-best six assists on the night. Classmate Justine O'Callahan notched 17 points and eight rebounds, while senior Elisha Raiford recorded a double-double with 16 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds. Sophomore Tiayana Logan chipped in with eight rebounds and six points, while Smith finished with eight points and five assists.

For Baruch, Jessica Duleba led all scorers with a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds. Folashade Akinde filled up the stat sheet with a double-double netting 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, to also go with a game-best seven steals, while Camille Voitot also chipped in with 18 points. Shamika Boyce added 10 rebounds and Monique Salmon dished out a game-high 14 assists.

The Bulldogs shot 37.1% (26-for-70) from the field for the game, while converting an outstanding 47.1% (8-for-17) from three. BC also made 12-of-18 (66.7%) from the free throw line. The host Bearcats shot 45.3% (29-for-64) from the floor for game and 30.4% (7-for-23) from beyond the arc. Baruch converted on just 53.3% (8-for-15) from the charity stripe. The Bearcats also held the slim rebounding edge, 44-43.

Brooklyn returns to action on Monday, January 24th, as the Bulldogs will host the Raptors of Rutgers University-Camden at the West Quad Center Gym. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.