OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Dec. 4, 2010) –  Senior Alexis Tyson (North Babylon, N.Y.) and junior Cierra Baker (Windsor, Conn.) both tallied double-doubles as NYIT women’s basketball was edged 74-70 by Queens College Saturday afternoon in East Coast Conference action.

 

With the loss, the Bears dropped to 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in league play, while the Knights improved to 2-6 overall and 1-1 in ECC play.

 

"Our effort in the second half was incredible," said head coach Anthony Crocitto. "Yet, we need to play consistently for 40 minutes. We cannot win without making free throws. We'd be a 2-0 team in conference play if we made them. I am happy to see more players contributing. We're getting there as a team. We just need to make free throws."

 

Tyson posted 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for NYIT, while shooting 66.7% from the field. It was her first double-double of the season. Baker notched double-double No. 4 with a team-best 22 points and a game-high 16 boards. Rounding out the Bears double-digit scorers was freshman Alexandra Venuto (Ossining, N.Y.), who had 10 points and 4-for-6 free throw shooting and two three-pointers.

 

For the Knights, Amanda Bartlett led the offense with a game-high 28 points. Christine Harnishfeger and Danielle Tharrington each added 11 points for Queens College.

 

NYIT pulled ahead quickly in the first half with an 8-3 lead on baskets from Rebecca Lynch (Hillsdale, N.J.), Tyson and Baker. However, Queens rallied back and claimed a three-point edge, 13-10. Yet, NYIT responded with a trey from rookie Keyla Pullen (Richmond, Va.) to knot the game 13-13. The two teams battled for control of the scoreboard for four minutes before Jessica Fairweather dropped a three-pointer to give Queens a 26-24 edge with 6:27 to play.

 

The Knights then plowed ahead and registered a 16-point lead, 42-28, with two minutes left in the half. The Bears fought hard to cut the gap but they still trailed by 11-points going into the second half, 45-35.

 

NYIT was not about to back down with a fresh 20 minutes on the clock. The Bears produced an 11-2 run that brought the score within one-point, 51-50, with 12:40 on the clock. The rally was fueled on points from Lynch, Pullen, Baker and Venuto. Three minutes later NYIT knotted the score, 57-57, on a layup from Baker. However, NYIT could still not take the upper hand. The game was tied for the final time, 70-70, with 20 seconds to go in regulation. The Bears looked to push the game into overtime but a turnover and foul gave the Knights final possession and the game, 74-70.

 

NYIT returns to action on Monday, Dec. 6 with a non-conference game against Concordia. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. at Recreation Hall. The Bears then continue ECC play on Wednesday, Dec. 8 on the road at C.W. Post. Tip off against the Pioneers is scheduled for 5 p.m.