NEW YORK, NY - Closing out the year on top, the Yeshiva women's basketball team took down Farmingdale State College, defeating the Rams by a score of 68-64.
Having arguably her best game of the season,
Yuval Nitzan absolutely went off for the Maccabees, putting up a double-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Clocking in at 11-17 overall, a number that included a career best eight threes, Nitzan proved absolutely lethal with the ball in her hands, shooting .727 from beyond the arc, .647 overall.
Also having solid games for the Maccabees,
Daniella Bessler fell just two boards short of a double-double, with 14 points, eight rebounds, four steals, four assists and one block, while
Shai Rahamim tallied her eighth consecutive double-digit performance with 14 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds.
With the win, the Macs close out 2023 with a 6-9 record, 5-6 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Yeshiva caught a spark in the first two minutes of play, putting up five quick points thanks to a jumper from Abigail Koenig and a catch and shoot from Bessler to Rahamim executed to perfection. While the Rams were able to keep pace with YU's dynamic attack, the Macs kept their advantage in place over the course of the first quarter, closing out the period up, 14-13.
- The Maccabees continued to reach new heights in the second quarter, growing their lead by more and more as the minutes ticked by. Up by five, then seven and then eight, the Macs kept FSC at arms length, carrying a 31-23 lead into the break, a margin punctuated by a buzzer-beating Nitzan three.
- Much like the first two quarters, the Maccabees opened the third a well oiled machine, with the offense continually putting up points while the defense kept Farmingdale's attack in check. YU's margin remained consistent through the first eight minutes of play, with Yeshiva finally breaking through the double-digit barrier at 2:31, hoisting an 11-point advantage at 55-44 into the final period.
- Despite their chokehold on the game through the first three quarters, the cracks began to show for Yeshiva in the fourth. Farmingdale spent the first eight minutes of the period chipping away at YU's edge, getting the Macs' lead down to just one at 64-63 with 1:41 remaining. However, even backed into a corner the Maccabees held firm, relying on four clutch free throws from their stalwart leader in Bessler to ice the game and secure Yeshiva a huge conference win at 68-64.
- Much of YU's success can be credited to their defensive effort, as the unit forced 22 turnovers and held the Rams to just 13.6% three-point shooting at 3-22 on the night.
MAC LEADERS
- Points: Nitzan (32), Bessler (14), Rahamim (14)
- Assists: Nitzan (4), Bessler (4), Rahamim (4)
- Rebounds: Nitzan (11), Bessler (8), Koenig (6)
- Steals: Bessler (4), Rahamim (4), Nitzan (2)
- Blocks: Bessler (1)
UP NEXT
Ringing in the new year at home, the Macs will host the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7:00 PM.
