Purchase, NY (Jan. 30, 2018) – Purchase women's basketball led early Tuesday night at home, but visiting SUNY College at Old Westbury – second place in the Skyline Conference rankings coming into the matchup – proved too deep for the hosts, despite a valiant effort.

OW improved to 16-2 overall in a 57-49 victory and is now 10-2 in league play, only trailing first-place Mount Saint Mary in the conference standings. Purchase fell to 6-11 and 4-9, respectively.

Purchase started strong and hung tough with OW throughout the night. The host Panthers jumped on the board immediately behind a 3-pointer from Alfa DeJesus (SO/Bronx, NY). DeJesus handed the Panthers a quick 3-0 lead off an assist from Amber Jones (JR/Bronx, NY).

OW answered right back with a 3 in the opening two minutes. Purchase would then seize 5-3 and 7-6 advantages across the first few minutes of the period.

The see-saw "Battle of the Panthers" did not disappoint between the two conference rivals. The back-and-forth play continued with the hosts leading 12-10 with three minutes to go in the first.  

OW then responded with a 3 from Tyra Bellings to take the lead back, 13-12. The visiting Panthers increased the lead to 15-12 moments later and finished the first leading by that same three-point margin.

The second quarter is where OW started to make a run. They outscored Purchase 14-8 in the period and held a 29-20 lead at halftime.

Nonetheless, Purchase would not go quietly in the second half.  

In the third quarter, Purchase trailed by only six, cutting the deficit to 37-31 with under two minutes to go in the frame.

Kayla Ortiz (SR/Brooklyn, NY), who scored a game-best 11 points in the first half, helped the hosts compete with OW and Destiny Marino. Marino had nine first-half points to pace the visitors.

OW led 40-31 heading into the fourth.

Undeterred, Purchase cut the deficit to five, 40-35, behind a quick 3 from Ortiz and a made free throw from Jones in the first two minutes of the fourth.

Right after, DeJesus connected on the front end of her free throws to bring Purchase within four.   

Purchase's Amber Yarter (JR/Albany, NY) had a key steal four minutes into the fourth and found Rianne John (FR/Brooklyn, NY) under the basket for a layup.

The heads up play cut the lead to 42-38 – back to four points, the second time in the second half Purchase came within four of OW.  

But OW responded with back-to-back scores to reclaim an eight-point lead (46-38) with five minutes to play. The visiting Panthers extended the lead to 51-40 with three-plus minutes to go and never looked back.  

Both teams scored 11 points apiece in the closing minutes en route to the final score.

Ortiz finished with a game-high 21 points. Jones chipped in 14.  

Charlotte Renker totaled 15 points in the victory for OW. Marino and Monique Joseph followed with nine points apiece.

NOTES: Purchase women's basketball player Nyasia Harris (JR/South Fallsburg, NY) sang the National Anthem prior to the game (pictured above) … The Purchase College Cheerleading Team also performed, including their halftime routine for the hometown faithful, with both Harris and the cheerleaders receiving a big round of applause … Harris also finished with a game-high 14 rebounds … The Panthers set their "Senior Night" festivities and will honor lone senior Ortiz on Feb. 13 against Sarah Lawrence. That evening is part of a Purchase doubleheader with the men's program. The men's team will be honoring their seniors on Feb. 10.