NEW YORK, NY - Competing in their penultimate game of the season, the Yeshiva women's basketball team fell to Mount Saint Mary College, losing to the Knights by a score of 76-59 on Saturday, Dec. 16.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were led by stalwart scorer Daniella Bessler, with the senior posting a statline of 28 points, six rebounds and an assist. Also scoring in double digits, Shai Rahamim and Yuval Nitzan both put up 11 on the night.
 
All five starters registered in the defensive category for Yeshiva, as Bessler led the way with three steals and a block, while Nitzan notched three blocks and a steal. Rahamim also chipped in with four steals of her own, while Jasmin Maly-Danker registered a block and Hannah Rashty a steal.
 
With seven rebounds, Nitzan came within three boards of a double-double.
 
With the loss, the Macs are now 5-9, 4-6 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• While Yeshiva were able to get on the board early off of buckets from Nitzan and Bessler, MSM would jump out to an early lead, going up 11-4 with 4:29 remaining in the first quarter. YU would manage to put up more points on the scoreboard, but would only see their deficit grow, trailing 23-11 by the time the first 10 minutes had elapsed.
   
• Both squads would go blow for blow throughout the second quarter, trading basket for basket. However, despite putting up 17 points throughout the period, the Mac offense could not keep up with the Knights' firepower, as Yeshiva went into the half down, 45-28.
   
• Firing on all cylinders, the Macs came out of the gate swinging to kick off the second half. 12 points from Bessler on top of buckets from Rashty and Nitzan gave YU 17 points throughout the third quarter, raising their point total to 44. Unfortunately, a shorthanded Yeshiva squad, that saw all five starters play all but three minutes of the game, could do little to stop MSM's attack, as the Macs went into the final period trailing by 18.
   
• While the Maccabees were able to fight through their exhaustion, and even outscore their opponent by a margin of 15-14 in the fourth quarter, Yeshiva's deficit proved too great to overcome, as the Macs ultimately fell by a score of 76-59.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Bessler (28), Rahamim (11), Nitzan (11)
• Assists: Nitzan (4), Maly-Danker (3), Rahamim (2)
• Rebounds: Maly-Danker (8), Nitzan (7), Bessler (6)
• Steals: Rahamim (4), Bessler (3), Nitzan (1), Rashty (1)
• Blocks: Nitzan (3), Bessler (1), Maly-Danker (1)

 
UP NEXT
Taking on their final opponent of 2023, the Macs will host Farmingdale State College on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7:00 PM.