The Medgar Evers College Cougars women's basketball team suffered a 55-44 defeat against the Pratt Institute Cannoneers on Thursday evening at the Pratt ARC. Despite a late push that saw the Cougars trim a double-digit deficit to six points, Medgar Evers was unable to complete the comeback, falling to 0-3 on the 2026-27 campaign.
Aaliyah Lyons led the Cougars offensively, finishing with a team-high 15 points while adding eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a game-high 10 steals. Enphani Huskey contributed nine points, four assists and five steals, while Adria Powell also scored nine points and pulled down a team-best nine rebounds. Finally, it was veteran Shanya Aitcheson adding five points and five rebounds.
Anabela Jakelic paced the Cannoneers with a game-high 21 points, shooting an efficient 9-of-14 from the floor while collecting 16 rebounds for a double-double. Dahlia Dimitrov added 15 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, while Phaedra Michaelides contributed eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Emily Carlson rounded out Pratt's leading performers with four points and 12 rebounds.
The Cougars came out with early energy, scoring the game's first three points on a Lyons three-pointer. Medgar Evers eventually built a 7-4 advantage midway through the opening quarter following baskets from Powell and Aitcheson. However, Pratt responded with a 7-0 run to close the period, taking an 11-7 lead after the first 10 minutes.
The Cannoneers carried that momentum into the second quarter, extending their advantage to nine points at 16-7. Medgar Evers responded with a strong stretch of its own, using contributions from Kimora St. John, Damali Browne, Aitcheson and Huskey to pull within 19-17. Pratt managed to regain control before halftime, scoring the final four points of the period to take a 26-19 advantage into the break.
Pratt continued to maintain its lead throughout the third quarter, eventually stretching the margin to 14 points at 38-24 with 2:47 remaining. The Cougars, however, refused to go away quietly. Medgar Evers closed the quarter on a 9-0 surge, highlighted by baskets from Powell and Huskey and a three-pointer from Huskey, cutting the deficit to 38-33 heading into the final period.
Lyons opened the fourth quarter with another three-pointer, bringing the Cougars within two points at 38-36. Pratt answered with a decisive 9-0 run, pushing its lead back to 47-36 with just over seven minutes remaining. Although Powell and the Cougars continued to battle, the Cannoneers maintained their cushion down the stretch. Medgar Evers made one final push, with Lyons converting a pair of fast-break free throws to make it 53-42 with 1:49 remaining, but Pratt held on for the 55-44 victory.
Pratt held a significant advantage in shooting efficiency, converting 45.3 percent (24-of-53) of its field-goal attempts compared to 21.4 percent (18-of-84) for Medgar Evers. The Cannoneers also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Cougars 57-41, including a 44-16 advantage on the defensive boards.
Medgar Evers finished with 19 steals compared to six for Pratt and forced the Cannoneers into 31 turnovers. The Cougars also held a 19-5 advantage in points off turnovers and committed just 11 turnovers themselves. Pratt, meanwhile, distributed the basketball effectively, recording 20 assists to Medgar Evers' nine while holding a 30-22 edge in points in the paint. Both teams scored two bench points.
The Cougars will look to rebound on Saturday, November 14, when they travel to Mahwah, N.J., to take on Ramapo College at the Bradley Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
