BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Dec. 8, 2010) – NYIT women’s basketball faced a hard-fought 59-57 edging by C.W. Post in East Coast Conference action Wednesday night at Pratt Recreation Center. The Pioneers outscored the Bears 38-30 in the second half and earned the win in the final seven seconds of the contest.

 

NYIT dropped to 2-5 on the season and 0-3 in ECC play with the loss, while C.W. Post improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in league action.

 

“Our new and young team is continuing to fight and learn important lessons,” said head coach Anthony Crocitto. “This season is very long. It is a marathon, not a sprint. We are better in the end for each game we play.”

 

The game was led by junior Cierra Baker (Windsor, Conn.), who posted a game-high 24 points and a game-best 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Senior Alexis Tyson (North Babylon, N.Y.) added 11 points and grabbed eight boards for the Bears.

 

For the Pioneers, Janea Aiken lead with 17 points and four steals. In addition, Felicia Joyner registered 12 points and four steals.

 

The Bears opened the contest with a 10-2 run and continued to make shots to keep the Pioneers at a safe distance. NYIT claimed its largest lead of the half, 27-13, on a jumper from Baker with 3:56 to play. However, C.W. Post began to chip away at the lead to only trail by six points, 27-21, going into halftime.

 

NYIT continued to control play in the second half and climbed to a 16-point advantage, 41-25, in the first four minutes off three-pointers from Alexandra Venuto (Ossining, N.Y.) and Baker. However, the Pioneers fought back with an 11-1 run to bring the game within one-point, 47-46, with 8:00 on the clock. Yet, the Bears refused to relinquish their lead until an unfortunate series of events in the final minute of play.

 

The Bears had possession with about 10 seconds left; Aiken stole the ball away from Venuto, preventing NYIT to regain the lead. Baker then fouled Kenyatta Sears to stop the clock. Sears converted both free throws to give the Pioneers the win. NYIT did have one last chance to send the game into overtime or win it but Nicole Marciniak stole the ball away from Baker as time expired.

 

NYIT returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 11 when it hosts the University of Bridgeport in ECC action. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Recreation Hall. In lieu of admission, fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Bears annual TOYS FOR TOTS drive.