KING'S POINT, NY – A slow third quarter for Purchase women's basketball created a hole that the Panthers could not climb out of as the team fell to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 63-37, in Skyline Conference action Tuesday evening inside Liebertz Gym.

Senior guard and tri-captain Arta Krasniqi (Bronx, NY) netted 14 points, seven rebounds and a game-leading six blocks for Purchase (4-20, 3-16 SKY). Sophomore forward Shadai Plowden (Yonkers, NY) produced 12 points and five boards, to go along with a pair of dimes.

Taylor Hightower scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed an impressive 17 rebounds to lead five players in double figures and lift USMMA (17-3, 20-4 SKY) to its eighth-straight home win. Kaleigh D'Arcy also finished with a double-double performance, notching 16 points and 10 boards, while Lauren Hunter chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds.

USMMA took a 14-13 lead into the second quarter, thanks to a balanced offensive attack. The two teams traded baskets before hitting the halftime buzzer with the host Mariners out in front, 26-22.

Merchant Marine kept the momentum going after the break while the visiting Panthers fell silent. The Mariners outscored Purchase 17-2 in the stanza to stretch their advantage to 43-24 with 10 minutes to go in regulation. The Panthers were unable to overcome the deficit in the fourth, as they suffered their third-straight loss and second of the season against USMMA.

Purchase will conclude its 2019-20 campaign against Mount Saint Mary College this Saturday at home. The Senior Day game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m.

For the latest news on the Panthers, log on to www.purchasecollegeathletic.com – the official site of Purchase College athletics. Also, become a follower of the Panthers on Instagram (purchaseathletics), Twitter (@PC_Panthers), and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (@purchasecollegeathletics).