NEW YORK, NY - Taking to the court in the Arc Arena for the first time in over a month, the Yeshiva women's basketball team fell to the University of Mount Saint Vincent, losing to the Dolphins by a score of 61-54 on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were carried by a pair of double-digit performances from Yuval Nitzan and Daniella Bessler, with Nitzan putting up 20 while Bessler tallied 15 on the night.
 
On top of their offensive output, both players had stellar outings on the defensive end, as Nitzan swiped four steals while Bessler came just one board short of a double-double with a team-leading mark of nine rebounds.
 
With the result, the Macs are now 6-10 on the season, 5-7 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• While UMSV jumped out to an early four point lead in the opening minutes of the contest, buckets from Shai Rahamim and Bessler got YU within striking distance, until a deep three from Nitzan gave the Macs their first advantage of the game at 7-6.
   
• Both squads would proceed to trade baskets and the lead over the following minutes, until a 14-6 Dolphin run to close out the quarter put Yeshiva in their first hole of the night at 22-15.
   
• Carrying their first period woes into the second, YU continued to struggle offensively, managing just 12 points over ten minutes. However, while their attack faltered, Yeshiva's defensive unit stepped up in their place, holding the red-hot Dolphins to just nine points on 4-16 shooting, 1-5 from beyond the arc. By the time the halftime horn sounded, the Macs trailed by just four points at 31-27.
   
• Continuing to press, the Macs came out of the half rearing to go, seeing points from Nitzan and Abigail Koenig, before a tough layup in the paint from Jasmin Maly-Danker seized YU's first lead since the opening quarter.
   
• This burst would not last however, as a 13-0 run to close out the quarter put UMSV back up at 46-35.
   
• Down but certainly not out, Yeshiva continued to fight in the fourth quarter, coming within one point at 55-54 off of a beautiful jumper from Bessler. However, as the final seconds ticked by, the Dolphin lead proved insurmountable, growing to seven in the waning moments. When the final buzzer sounded, the Macs had lost, 61-54.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Nitzan (20), Bessler (15), Rahamim (8)
• Assists: Bessler (4), Nitzan (3), Koenig (2)
• Rebounds: Bessler (9), Rahamim (4), Yolkut (4)
• Steals: Nitzan (4), Koenig (2), Bessler (1)
• Blocks: Bessler (1), Yolkut (1)

 
UP NEXT
Hitting the road, the Maccabees will travel to Skyline rival Farmingdale State College on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7:00 PM.