BRONX, NY - Taking on the third seed in the Skyline, the Yeshiva Women's Basketball Team saw their push come within inches of toppling Manhattanville University, ultimately losing to the Valiants by a score of 59-52 on Thursday, Feb. 13th.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were led by Daniella Bessler, with the Massachusetts native putting up 24 points on 9-25 shooting. Also scoring in double digits, Simone Amkraut tallied 15 points, a new career high for the freshman guard.
 
On top of her attacking prowess, Amkraut also had an impressive outing on the defensive side of the ball, pulling down a team-leading seven rebounds.
 
With the loss, the Macs fall to 4-17 on the year, 4-12 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Yeshiva's offense struggled early in the first quarter, as the Macs trailed 9-2 with 3:33 left on the clock. However, YU surged over the next minute and a half, with three straight buckets from Bessler and Tali Cohen knotting the game at 9-9. While this deadlock would not last, the Maccabees still remained hot on Manhattanville's tail, going into the break down just four at 13-9.
   
• The Macs continued to press come the start of the second quarter, tying the game at 13-all before seizing the advantage for themselves at 15-14 off an Amkraut jumper. The lead would change hands three more times over the next five minutes of play, before the pendulum finally settled at a scoreline of 21-20 in favor of Manhattanville. It was then that the Valiants were able to secure some breathing room, burying two consecutive threes and sending Yeshiva into the half down, 27-20.
   
• Despite the Maccabees shooting 4-6 from beyond the arc, the Valiant lead remained consistent throughout the third quarter. While Yeshiva managed to get within one point at 37-36 off a triple from Amkraut, Manhattanville held off the women in blue and white, with the Macs headed into the final period trailing, 42-39.
   
• Manhattanville's lead ballooned out to nine points five minutes into the fourth quarter, as the Valiants led 53-44 with 3:40 remaining in regulation. Undeterred by their deficit, Yeshiva rallied, going on a 7-0 run to draw within two points just two minutes later at 53-51. However, the Maccabees' momentum would not last, managing just one more point over the final 90 seconds to Manhattanville's six. The final buzzer rang with YU having lost, 59-52.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Bessler (24), Amkraut (15), Yolkut (6)
• Assists: Rahamim (7), Bessler (5), Cohen (3)
• Rebounds: Amkraut (7), Cohen (6), Yolkut (6)
• Steals: Bessler (2), Cohen (1), Rahamim (1), Hanan (1)
• Blocks: Rahamim (1)

 
UP NEXT
Taking on the same team but on the road, the Maccabees will travel out to Manhattanville University on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 12:00 PM.