Box Score BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Medgar Evers women's basketball team led by as many as 20 points in the first half, but could not maintain the offensive pace as they fell to CUNYAC opponent York (N.Y.), 59-57, Wednesday night at the Cougars Cave.

Freshman Elesha Dieudonne (Brooklyn, N.Y.) posted her third double-double of the season for the Lady Cougars (1-15, 1-8 CUNYAC) with 15 points and a team-high 21 rebounds in a losing effort. Danyelle Foster (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied her second straight double-double and ninth in the season with 16 points and 16 boards, while Nia Tompkins (Queens, N.Y.) drained four three-pointers in the first half to total 12 points along with five rebounds and three assists.

Jigcara Grant dominated the glass in the victory for the Cardinals (4-13, 2-7 CUNYAC), grabbing an incredible 38 rebounds on the contest, which is a Division-III season high in 2015-16, to go with 14 points. Angelika Ruggiano added 15 points with three assists, while Shauncia McClendon corralled 10 rebounds along with seven points in the win.

Medgar Evers jumped out of the gate with a hot start, with Tompkins scoring the first nine points all on three-pointers as they built a double-digit lead through the first quarter. A 13-3 Lady Cougars run to start the second put the team up 20 points with 5:09 left in the half. York would close the stanza strong to cut the deficit by scoring 13 of the final 14 points in the quarter as they went into halftime up 35-27.

The Cardinals would clamp down on defense in the third quarter, holding Medgar Evers to just eight points in the frame as they battle their way back and would grab the advantage, 47-43, as the third came to a close. In the fourth, the Lady Cougars would hang tough despite going cold from the field. Trailing by two with six seconds left, Dieudonne's three-point attempt fell short.

Both teams played hard defense the entire game, with Medgar Evers holding York to 26.6% shooting throughout while the Cardinals forced the Lady Cougars to just 27.7% from the field, including 23.8 in the second half. With Grant's excellence on the rebounding end, York held a 71-60 edge on rebounds.

Up next this week for Medgar Evers is a CUNYAC showdown with Lehman College Friday night as part of a doubleheader with the men's team at the Cougars Cave. Tip time is set for 6:00 p.m. Be sure to stay tuned on MECAthletics.com and @MECCougars on Twitter for stats, pictures, previews, recaps and more.