• Box Score

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (Dec. 31, 2011) - Junior Rebecca Lynch (Hillsdale, N.J.) led with a game-high 16 points as NYIT women's basketball won its third straight game with a 70-55 final at St. Joseph's (L.I.) Saturday afternoon. The Bears head into 2012 with a 7-4 overall record,  while the Golden Eagles even to 5-5 on the season.

"St. Joseph's gave us all we could handle today," said head coach Anthony Crocitto. "They are very well coached, hard-working and talented. We will have to be more focused and mentally tough to seriously compete in the East Coast Conference. More leadership is needed from our veterans and we must get tougher across the board."

Lynch also had six steals and was 7-for-9 from the field. Senior Cierra Baker (Windsor, Conn.) added 15 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, while Chloe Johnson (Seacliff, N.Y.) and Alex Venuto (Ossining, N.Y.) had 11 points each. 

"Chloe continues to improve and impress by hitting early three-pointers when we are struggling," added Crocitto. "And, Rebecca was simply fantastic today."

The first five minutes were closely played as the score was tied twice and the lead changed three times, but at 14:09 the Bears put together a 7-0 run that gave them a 20-8 advantage with 11:45 to play. NYIT continued to control the scoreboard until the final minutes of the half when St. Joe's went on a 7-0 run to trail 32-29 at halftime. 

Although NYIT pushed its lead back to nine points in the first 2:30 minutes of the second half, St. Joe's fought back to bring the score within three points, 38-35 with 15:07 to go on free throws by Nicole Redding. That was the closest the Golden Eagles would get as the Bears produced an 18-3 run over a span of five minutes to claim a 53-37 edge with 9:25 to play. NYIT reached a 20 point advantage in the final three minutes on an old fashioned three-point play by Lynch, 69-49. Despite a few fouls that sent a pair of Golden Lions to the charity stripe, the Bears held on for the 70-55 win.

For St. Joseph's, Amanda Bender and Redding each had 14 points. 

NYIT returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 3 when it hosts Mercy in ECC action. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Recreation Hall.