BUFFALO, N.Y.- Wrapping up their Buffalo road swing on Sunday afternoon, the Queens College women's basketball team squared off against the D'Youville University Saints inside Saints Center Gym in East Coast Conference action.
Junior guard
Daja White (Queens, N.Y.) powered the Knights' offense with a career-high 27 points, while rookie guard
Enise Hodzic (Queens, N.Y.) tallied 10 points. But a late rally would fall short as the Knights would drop their second ECC contest of the year to the final score of 78-64.
GAME RECAP
White and Hodzic kept pace with the Saints early, helping Queens to a 9–7 lead with 6:05 remaining in the first quarter.
After a jumper from graduate forward
Jordan Tobin (Massapequa, N.Y.) put the Knights ahead 11–10 at the 3:58 mark, D'Youville responded with a 7–0 run to regain a 17–11 advantage.
White's three-pointer cut the deficit to 17–14, but the Saints closed the quarter on a 7–2 spurt, sending Queens into the second down 24–16.
D'Youville opened the second period with an 8–2 run to extend its lead to 32–18 with 7:13 left.
The Knights battled back over the next three minutes, trimming the margin to single digits at 36–27 with 4:29 remaining before halftime.
However, the Saints finished the half strong, using an 8–4 run to take a 44–31 advantage into the break.
Queens struggled offensively in the third quarter, shooting just 26.3% from the field, while D'Youville connected on 57.1% of its attempts to push the lead to 63–44 entering the fourth.
The Knights opened the final frame with a 4–0 burst by White and junior
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) cutting the deficit to 63–48 with 8:41 to go.
After a Saints triple pushed the margin back to 18, the trio of Hodzic, White, and junior guard
Tiffany Newsome (Harlem, N.Y.) fueled an 11–2 run from the 7:35 to the 5:11 mark, pulling Queens within single digits at 68–59.
But that was as close as the Knights would get, as D'Youville closed the final 4:52 on a 10–5 run to secure the victory.
Post Game Quote:
Head Coach
Travis Ponton: "Throughout the game I was really happy with the way we just kept playing and battled back. D'Youville has been on an absolute tear shooting the basketball the past couple weeks, and their shooting splits were once again the big story for them. We look forward to getting back home this week in front of our home fans in the Fitz."
BY THE NUMBERS:
- White posted a career-best 27 points, adding four rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
- Hodzic added 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
- Awaka notched eight points, three rebounds, and two steals.
NEXT GAME:
Head coach
Travis Ponton and the Knights return home to begin a two-game homestand on Wednesday, December 10, when they host the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X Main Account (@QCKnights), Queens College WBB (QCKnightsWBB), and Instagram (qcknightsny), women's basketball (qcknightswbb).
