• Box Score

OLD WESTURY, N.Y. (Nov. 25, 2011) - Senior Cierra Baker (Windsor, Conn.) tallied career double-double No. 23 with game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds as NYIT women's basketball faced a hard-fought 77-73 loss to Ohio Dominican Friday afternoon at Recreation Hall. With the loss, the Bears dropped to 2-3 on the season, while the Panthers remain undefeated 4-0 overall.

Additionally, junior Nikki Jo Rotolo (Rome, N.Y.) had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Bears. 

The first half featured long runs by both teams along with three ties and two lead changes. The Panthers took early control of the game and quickly jumped to a 10-3 lead in the first four minutes. But the Bears began to claw away at the gap and, with an 11-4 run, knotted the score 14-14 on a layup by Baker. The half was tied once more before NYIT earned the advantage and climbed to an eight-point lead 25-17 on a layup by Rotolo with 7:08 to play. Yet, ODU tied the game 25-25 on a three-point play by Abby Glover with 4:55 to play. From there the Panthers pushed ahead and held on for a 38-35 lead at halftime. 

The lead changed eight times in the second half with NYIT in control on three occasions. The last advantage for the Bears was at 9:07 when a free throw by Baker gave NYIT a 58-56 lead. But a layup from Paige Stought knotted the game for the final time 58-58 with 8:15 on the clock. The Panthers utilized a 12-3 rally to pull away from the Bears and claim a 68-61 edge with 3:50 to play. Baskets from Baker and Rotolo tried to keep NYIT in the game, but the lead was too great. ODU went on to win 77-73 on free throws from Kacee Hockenberry.

The Panthers out-shot the Bears 46.9% to 41.8% and held a 36.8% to 15% three-point shooting advantage. Rebounding was knotted at 39 a piece. Glover and Meredith Fox led ODU with 19 point each and Katelyn Stuckey added 12 points in the win.

NYIT returns to action on Monday, Nov. 28 on the road at Ohio Dominican. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Orangeburg, N.Y.