BROOKLYN, NY - The Medgar Evers College women's basketball team hosted CUNY Athletic Conference foes Lehman College at the Cougars Cave on Saturday, January 4.

The Cougars (1-7, 0-2 CUNYAC) fell to the Lightning (1-11, 1-2) by a final score of 76-71.

The first quarter was very evenly-matched and featured three lead changes as the teams traded baskets and grappled for control of the game. Lehman was able to establish a five-point lead by the end of the first quarter, although Medgar was right within striking distance.

Halfway through the second quarter, Lehman had established a 30-18 lead, but the Cougars fought back by the end of the first half, and a Vanessa Zambrano three-pointer with five seconds left in the half made the score 38-33.

The third-quarter was again back-and-forth and evenly matched, and a Jo-Ann Elliott layup cut the Cougar deficit to just two points. However, Lehman's Nina Gill (who finished with 46 points in the game) responded with three consecutive layups. By the end of the quarter, the Cougar deficit was still just six points.

With just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, an Onella Ireland layup brought the score to 57-55, but Lehman responded with a 9-0 run. The yo-yo continued, as Shae-Quana Brathwaite hit a three pointer to bring the Cougars within five, before the Lighting replied with an 8-0 run to make the deficit 13 points with a minute and a half left.

Although the Cougars still fought back and made it a four-point game after a Destiny Simmons three-pointer, it was too little too late as the Lightning held on.

Brathwaite (14 points), Elliott (13), Ireland (12), and Tianna Jones (12) each finished in double-digit points for Medgar, while Ireland added 15 rebounds to complete her double-double, as well as three steals. Jones added six assists and four steals, Elliott added six rebounds and three steals, and Brathwaite contributed eight rebounds and three steals.

The Cougars return to action TODAY for a road CUNYAC game at CCNY at 5 pm.