BRONX, NY - Taking on the second ranked team in the conference, the Yeshiva Women's Basketball Team fell to Mount Saint Mary College, losing to the Knights by a score of 62-54 on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
 
Offensively the Maccabees saw three players score in double digits, with Naomi Sigman tallying 15 points, while Daniella Bessler and Sara Yolkut put up 13 each. Along with her 11 rebounds, Sigman notched the first double-double of her career, while Yolkut's point total marked a new season-high for the junior out of New Jersey.
 
On top of their attacking prowess, Bessler and Yolkut also had stellar games on the defensive side of the ball, with Bessler swiping six steals, while Yolkut locked down a stat line of eight rebounds, one block and one steal on 33 minutes off the bench.
 
With the loss, the Macs are now 3-16, 3-11 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both squads traded baskets through the first seven and a half minutes of play, seeing the score tied at 12-12 with 2:34 left in the first period. A Mount Saint Mary layup a minute later broke the deadlock, and would prove the only basket of the final two and a half minutes, as the Maccabees carried a 14-12 deficit into the break.
   
• While Mount Saint Mary clung to a slim lead throughout the second quarter, Yeshiva's persistent attack kept the game close, not letting the Knights accumulate a lead bigger than five points at 19-14. The Macs continued to press throughout the period, managing to once again knot the contest, this time at 26-all. However, four points in the final 52 seconds opened up a gap for the Knights, one that a forceful layup from Sigman could not close. Yeshiva went into halftime down, 30-28.
   
• The Macs continued to press in the third quarter, but could not usurp Mount Saint Mary's hold on the game. Yeshiva managed to get within two points on two separate occasions off of buckets from Yolkut and Shai Rahamim, but not any closer, ultimately trailing by eight at 46-38 headed into the final period.
   
• Yeshiva's deficit continued to grow at the beginning of the fourth quarter, reaching double digits at 54-44 with 6:32 remaining in regulation. While a deep three from Rahamim combined with two free throws from Bessler got the Macs within five at 59-54 with 1:05 left on the clock, sparking hopes of a comeback, Mount Saint Mary's margin proved too much to overcome in such little time, with YU falling, 62-54.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Sigman (15), Bessler (13), Yolkut (13)
• Rebounds: Sigman (11), Yolkut (8), Bessler (3)
• Assists: Sigman (3), Bessler (3), Rahamim (3), Amkraut (3)
• Steals: Bessler (6), Sigman (3), Yolkut (1)
• Blocks: Yolkut (1), Hanan (1)

 
UP NEXT
Closing out the week at home, the Macs will host Farmingdale State College on Sunday, Feb. 9th at 3:00 PM.