BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - The Purchase College women's basketball team earned its first win of the season Thursday night, topping the Gryphons of Sarah Lawrence College, 53-48.

Entering the contest, the Panthers had lost four games by a single-digit margin this year and were keen on not letting that happen again. 

While the Panthers prevailed in the end, the game began exactly how it finished - close.

During the opening period, neither side led by more than four points before the first-quarter horn sounded with Purchase up, 12-11.

That trend continued in the second quarter, though Sarah Lawrence managed an 8-0 run midway through the frame to push its lead to six points, 20-14. 

However, the Panthers weren't going to be denied in the period or on the night. Over the remaining three minutes of the half, the guests embarked on a 12-5 run to regain the lead and carry a 26-25 lead into the halftime break.

Following the intermission, the two sides regained their back-and-forth forms in the third, as Purchase outscored Sarah Lawrence, 11-8, to win the frame.

Finally, the two sides entered the final quarter with the Panthers clinging to a four-point lead, 37-33. To open the final ten minutes, the Gryphons scored four straight to tie the contest at 37-all. 

However, that was the last time the game would be tied, as the Panthers answered right back with five-straight points.

Over the rest of the period, Purchase held Sarah Lawrence at bay and extended it's advantage to as many as nine points, before settling for the eventual 53-48 victory.

Conditioning proved to be key for the guests, as they used it to dominate the Gryphons in fast-break points, outscoring them by the margin of 15-4. 

The fitness of the squad was also important in terms of minutes played, as four of the team's seven players - Ariella Johnson (SO/Brooklyn, NY), Miya Ritchie (SR/Harlem, NY), Kasia Morrison (SO/Bronx, NY) and Alyssa Aurora (SR/Ossining, NY) - each played at least 36 minutes on the night.

Johnson led the charge for Purchase, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win.

The guests also received a career-high 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists from Ritchie, while Morrison added 11 points and seven rebounds on the night. 

With the victory, the Panthers are now 1-11 overall and 1-8 in the Skyline Conference. Meanwhile, the Gryphons dropped to 4-9 and 2-8, respectively. 

Up next for Purchase is more Skyline Conference road action, as the team travels to Brooklyn this weekend to take on the Bears of St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn. That matchup is set for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off on January 22nd.