Bulldogs Conference Record Remains Unblemished After Win Over Lightning

Box Score

Jan. 18, 2012

NEW YORK, N.Y. - What started out as a knock down, drag out affair in the first half of Wednesday night's game between Lehman and Brooklyn turned into a veritable offensive explosion in the second as the Bulldogs held off the Lightning down the stretch to stay unbeaten in the conference at 5-0 with a 59-54 victory.

Brooklyn's Lauren Plagainos led all scorers with 21 points, a bulk of which came from the three-point line where she shot 6-of-11. Justine O'Callahan added a double-double of 11 points and 15 boards, while Nicole Francomano ran the Brooklyn offense admirably, finishing with 13 points.

Alicia McDaniel topped the Lightning with 15 points and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor. Senior Jaleesa Gordon nearly pulled off the triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Both teams had an equally hard time scoring in the first half as they combined for just 13 field goals and 36 total points. Thanks to its ability to hold Brooklyn scoreless over the half's final six minutes, Lehman was able to turn a 17-9 deficit into a 19-17 edge at the intermission.

The Lightning was able to carry the lead through the first 10 minutes of action in the second half before Brooklyn jumped in front on a layup by Francomano with 10:07 remaining to put the Bulldogs up 34-32. Brooklyn eventually stretched its advantage to 11 with 2:49 to go on a three-pointer by Plagainos.

Lehman had a final push in it, though, as Gordon and Shalaya Nieves accounted for the next six points to inch the Lightning to within 55-50 with 1:44 left in the game. As the clock ticked under one minute, Lehman had a golden opportunity to draw closer, but O'Callahan was able to corral a huge offensive rebound for the Bulldogs off a miss by Tiffany Thompson. The clutch carom would set up two back-breaking free throw conversions by Francomano that extended the Bulldogs lead to 57-50.

The loss drops the Lightning to 8-10 overall and 3-3 in CUNYAC in advance of its next game, another conference contest, against York College on Friday.

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