Kings Point, NY (Nov. 28, 2017) – The Purchase College women's basketball team dropped its first Skyline game of the season to the U.S. Merchant Marine Mariners, 75-48, Tuesday evening. The Panthers fall to 2-2 (0-1 SKY), while USMMA improves to 1-1 (1-0 SKY).

For Purchase, senior guard Kayla Ortiz (Brooklyn, NY) led the way with 18 points and five steals, while junior guard Amber Jones (Bronx, NY) contributed 11 points. Freshman center Rianne John (Brooklyn, NY) brought down a team-best 12 boards in the affair. 

For the host Mariners, Senior Tichina Carmon recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, as she was one of three players to score in double-digits on the night for the Mariners. Sophomore Kaleigh D'Arcy had a game-high 19 points to go along with nine boards and classmate Shelby Peters added 18 on 7-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds and two blocks. 

Senior Gabrielle Salazar chipped in with nine points and a game-high six assists, while sophomore Taylor Hightower was a presence off the bench with 12 rebounds and eight points. Freshman Kiana Vega rounded out the Mariners' scorers with four points on the night, as well as four assists. 

The Mariners shot 49.2-precent from the field as a team (29-for-59) and held Purchase to just a 27.1-percent clip (19-for-70). USMMA also out-rebounded the Panthers, 57-32, on the night. 

Purchase returns to its home court on Thursday night for another Skyline matchup.  The Panthers will host Mount Saint Mary College for a tipoff starting at 7 p.m.

-USMMA Sports Information Contributed to this report