OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - The Purchase College women's basketball team nearly secured its first win of the season Saturday afternoon, before a cold stretch late allowed SUNY Old Westbury to escape with a 50-46 win.

As a result, the Panthers of Purchase fell to 0-13 overall and 0-10 in Skyline Conference play. For the Panthers of Old West, they jumped to 3-11 and 2-8, respectively.

The two sides opened contest with a quiet frame, as the game was tied at 8-all after 10 minutes. Once the action resumed though, the Blue and Orange were a team reborn.

During the first two minutes of the second frame, Purchase scored nine-straight points to more than double its margin as they began to roll.

In the quarter, the Panthers pushed their lead to as many as 15 points, before settling for 13-point halftime lead, 28-15.

Following the break, the script completely flipped for the guests.

Old Westbury emerged from the locker room as an offensive force, totaling 22 points to Purchase's 10 points in the third. As a result, the Blue and Orange's once huge margin become a one-point game entering the fourth quarter.

Despite that, the guests opened the period quickly by scoring six of the first seven points to lead 44-38 with just over seven minutes to play.

The problem for Purchase was it only scored once more the rest of the game.

As a result, minutes later, Old Westbury grabbed the lead and held it the rest of the way to escape with the win.

While it was a tough result for the Blue and Orange, there were positive things to take away from the effort. Offensively, they outpaced Old Westbury in points in the paint (26-20) and bench points (17-0), while the defense forced 20 turnovers.

Individually, Jessica McHugh (FY/Ellenville, NY) lead the Panthers with nine points, a career-high 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Halle Greaige finished with nine points and 11 rebounds, while Carlye Graff (JR/Nyack, NY) added eight points.

Up next for the women's basketball team is a return to its home court, as the squad welcomes Mount Saint Mary College on January 16th at 7 p.m.