Box Score

Old Westbury, N.Y. (Jan. 19, 2008) -  Dowling College rallied from an eight point second half deficit to earn a 61-59 victory over NYIT this afternoon in East Coast Conference women’s basketball action. The loss drops the Bears to 4-12 on the season and 2-7 in the conference, while Dowling improves to 3-12 overall and 2-7 in the league.

The Golden Lions connected on seven three pointers in the first half, including four from Janika Sundstrom, who led all scorers with 15 first-half points. Sundstrom started a 14-5 run for Dowling by converting three free throws and Michelle Yawn’s three pointer with 7:32 to go gave Dowling a 20-15 lead. Senior Emily Bolling’s (Palmer, Alaska) lay-up at 5:22 made the score 22-19, but Dowling responded once again, this one an 11-2 run, capped by back-to-back three pointers from Sundstrom to give the Golden lions their largest lead of the game, 33-21, with 3:36 remaining. The Bears chipped away at the deficit as senior Brittany Smith (Amityville, NY) scored five consecutive points to bring NYIT within 33-26 with 2:25 remaining.  Dowling got two free throws from Shanisa Franklin seven seconds before the half to head into the break with a 35-26 lead.

Dowling would push their lead up  to 11, 39-28, early in the second half on two free throws from Mirna Araujo, but the Bears would storm back with an impressive 16-0 run that spanned just under five minutes, sparked by six points from senior Freda Elston (Brooklyn, NY). Bolling sandwiched layups around a three pointer from junior Brittany Almonte (Syracuse, NY) that gave the Bears their largest lead of the game, 52-44, with 10:50 to go.  Dowling chipped away at NYIT’s lead over the next six minutes and tied the game at 57-57 on Yawn’s free throw, which capped a 13-5, with 3:10 left to play. Bolling hit two free throws to give NYIT a two point lead, 58-57 with :58 seconds to go, but Nikkeia Daneils drove the length of the court for Dowling, scored and was fouled. Daniels completed the three point and her free throw gave the Golden Lions a 60-59 lead. The Bears had three opportunities in the final :30 seconds to tie or retake the lead, but NYIT could not convert on any of those opportunities.

Smith led three Bears in double figures with 17 points and eight rebounds and Bolling, who scored the 1,000^th point of her career, added 14 points. Almonte chipped in with 10 points in the loss. The Bears shot just 26.2 % (17-65) from the floor, including 18.2% (4-22) from the three point line. 

Yawn finished with game-highs of 20 points and five assists, Sundstrom finished with 15 and Daniels added 12 in the victory.