OLD WESTBURY, NY - Despite fielding only six players due to a number of injuries, the Yeshiva women's basketball team took down The College at Old Westbury, defeating the Panthers by a score of 60-56.
Offensively, the Maccabees saw impressive production across the board, as
Yuval Nitzan (18),
Daniella Bessler (17) and
Shai Rahamim (15) all scored in the double digits.
Both Nitzan and Bessler proved their dominance of the glass on top of their offensive output, each securing a double-double with 13 and 14 rebounds respectively.
Rahamim and Nitzan also helmed YU on the defensive end of the ball, as both tallied three steals and a block on the night.
With the win, the Macs are now 5-7, 4-4 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A Rahmim triple opened up the scoring for the Macs, giving Yeshiva an early lead 30 seconds into the contest. Despite this bucket combined with another quick layup from Rahamim, both squads struggled to put up points through the first quarter, with the Maccabees closing out the period up just 9-6.
- Seeing far more scoring in the second quarter compared to the first, both teams jumped their point totals into the double digits early on into the period, with YU actually losing their advantage briefly before recapturing it at 15-14 thanks to a Nitzan layup.
- Yeshiva continued to score to close out the half, riding a 9-2 run over the final two minutes to a 26-16 lead come the midway break.
- Down but certainly not out, OW came out of gate swinging in the third quarter, quickly chipping away at YU's lead until it was down to one at 30-29 with 5:54 remaining. Undeterred however, quick buckets by Nitzan and Bessler once again opened up some breathing room for the Macs, with Yeshiva going into the final quarter leading by a score of 43-35.
- While the Panthers continued to press, once again coming within one point, the Macs never let their opponents finish the job, seeing clutch baskets from Nitzan and Jasmin Maly-Danker maintain their lead, no matter how slim. Despite OW coming within two with just ten seconds left, Rahamim and Bessler nailed a free throw each, closing out the contest by a score of 60-56.
MAC LEADERS
- Points: Nitzan (18), Bessler (17), Rahamim (15),
- Assists: Bessler (5), Nitzan (4), Rahamim (2)
- Rebounds: Bessler (14), Nitzan (13), Rashty (5), Maly-Danker (5)
- Steals: Nitzan (3), Rahamim (3), Bessler (2)
- Blocks: Bessler (2), Nitzan (1), Rahamim (1)
UP NEXT
Staying on the road, the Macs will travel up to Kings Point to take on the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7:00 PM.
