(New York, NY) - Senior Tova Laufer (New York, NY/Ramaz) scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had six steals, and junior Lauren Kempin (Fairlawn, NJ/Frisch) added 11 points, five rebounds, and five blocked shots but the Yeshiva University Women's Basketball team lost its 2008-09 season opener, 67-43 to Polytechnic on Thursday night at Baruch. The loss also marked YU's Skyline Conference opener.

The teams battled back and forth from the opening tip-off, and a Jaclyn Ramras (Woodmere, NY/SKA) lay-up with 8:21 remaining in the first half made it 18-13 in favor of Polytechnic. However, Polytechnic (1-0, 1-0 Skyline Conference) followed with a 10-0 run that all but blew the game wide open. The Fighting Blue Jays took a 35-22 lead into halftime.

The second half saw Yeshiva battle to keep things close, but a 14-0 Polytechnic run midway through the stanza put the game away.

Overall, Yeshiva shot 23%, compared to Polytechnic's 39%, and the Maccabees were outrebounded 66-36. Yeshiva did, however, enjoy a terrific defensive night as YU forced 27 Polytechnic turnovers, while committing only 16.

Also having a solid night for YU was junior Libby Lapson (Chicago, ICJA), who scored six points, and added six assists and four steals.

Yeshiva returns to action on Thursday night when the Maccabees travel to the College of New Rochelle for an 8:00 p.m. start. The game will be a non-conference contest.