Purchase, NY (Feb. 4, 2017) – A standout performance by Panther guard Kayla Ortiz was lost Saturday in a 94-54 home defeat to Old Westbury.

Ortiz (JR/Brooklyn, NY) scored 26 first-half points en route to 29 for the contest, but OW was too strong in improving to 17-3 overall, including 10-3 in Skyline Conference play.

Ortiz fouled out midway through the third quarter and didn't have the opportunity to build off her incredible first-half.

Center Charlotte Renker paced with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Teammate Jasmine Robinson also posted a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds).

In the loss, Lisa Kentris (SO/Latham, NY) and Frances Minaya (SR/San Fernando, CA) chipped in nine points apiece. Teammates Isis Gonzalez (FR/New York, NY), Nadia Shadi (SO/New York, NY) and Ashley Calder (SR/Merrick, NY) also performed well.

The visitors outscored Purchase 21-12 in the third quarter to seize control of the game. OW never looked back. Purchase, who was also without standout guard April Uhl (SR/Jackson Heights, NY) due to injury, gave a valiant effort in defeat.

The Panthers (2-17, 1-13) opened with a 3-pointer by Ortiz and led 3-0 in the first minutes of action. Old Westbury countered with a conventional style three-point play to tie the score and then jumped in front 10-5 just under seven minutes in the first quarter.

Purchase showed its mettle, connecting on another 3 by Ortiz to close the gap to 12-8 at around six minutes. Ortiz would then follow that with two made free throws to pull the host Panthers within two.

Purchase kept pace in the first quarter behind Ortiz and her 18 points. She would pull the Panthers back within two, 17-15, on a dazzling dribble, drive and score.

Ortiz wasn't done. She closed the quarter on a buzzer-beating 3 for a 20-18 lead. 

But OW bounced back immediately, scoring five straight to open the second quarter. The visiting Panthers held a 28-22 lead at 7:36 in the second quarter.

Undeterred, Ortiz emerged again – this time burying two, deep 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to close the cap to 32-28 with under six minutes before halftime.

OW countered with a spurt and closed the half leading 49-30. Renker dominated in the paint, scoring 23, first-half points. She was followed by teammate Ruth Vargas, who posted 14 points and eight rebounds over the first two quarters. Robinson chipped in 12.

Ortiz closed the first half, accounting for 26 of the team's 30 points. She added three rebounds and one steal.