AMHERST, N.Y. (Jan. 12, 2019) - In a back and forth battle against the Wildcats of Daemen College (6-8, 3-2 ECC), the Queens College women's basketball team was unable to capitalize on their free throws as the Knights dropped a 54-51 East Coast Conference action from Lumsden Gymnasium Sunday afternoon.

The Knights (2-12, 1-5 ECC), were given a quick start from sophomore Lucy Tougas as she came out firing in the first quarter with 10 points (5-8 FG). Queens led 8-2 with 6:26 still remaining the first quarter but the Wildcats were not far behind. Daemen continued to answer each bucket Tougas scored against the home side. Leading 14-12 to the start the second quarter, the Knights went on a 3-0 run behind junior Beth Bonin and My'essa Grant layup. The Wildcats responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead. Both sides traded buckets for the remainder of the first half, but the Knights took a one point advantage into the half leading 23-22.

A similar story continued in the second half with neither side willing to give an inch as both sided remained within one possession. The Knights extended their lead to four (29-25) with their first three pointer of the contest from Bonin with 5:30 left in the third quarter. Bonin found her rhythm in the second half scoring 13 points (5-9 FG). While the Wildcats continued to miss their shots, QC were not helping their own cause as they went flat by missing their next three shots. A jumper from senior Kaitlyn Mahon knotted the game at 38-38 with 7:02 remaining in regulation, but each side continued to trade buckets with the game still anyone to take. With 1:22 remaining in regulation, the Knights ­­tied the game at 47-47 before the Wildcats retook the lead. Trailing by four (52-48), with 15 seconds left, Bonin added some final seconds drama by draining a three pointer from top of the key to get within one (52-51) with 6.1 seconds left. The Wildcats converted on their free throws to go back up by three (54-51) with 4.9 seconds remaining. Hoping to take the game into overtime, the Knights turned to their best shooter in Bonin on the final shot. But her three pointer was off the mark in the dying seconds as the Knights dropped another close game in Amherst in back-to-back seasons.

Bonin led the way with 16 points (6-13 FG), 6 rebounds, while Tougas paced her fellow teammate with 14 points (6-17 FG), 3 rebounds. Grant contributed with 7 points (3-8 FG), with 6 rebounds. Knights shot 38.5% for the game, but were led down by their free throwing shooting 47.1% from the field. While the Wildcats shots 32.3% from the field but executed their free throws by going 68.8% to steal the win.

UP NEXT: Queens will look to rebound as they continued their quest for a conference playoff spot when they travel to Sparkill, NY with a date against the defending conference champions in St. Thomas Aquinas (14-2, 5-0 ECC) on Wednesday, Jan 16. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 pm.