QUEENS, N.Y. – The Lehman College women's basketball team earned a hard fought victory over host York College, 77-67, in CUNY Athletic Conference play on Tuesday night. The Lightning have swept both games against the Cardinals this season.

The Lightning (14-9, 8-6 CUNYAC) fell behind by as many as seven points in the first half, but would respond with a 16-0 in a span of 5:45 to take control of the game. Sophomore guard Jennifer Navarro (Jamaica, N.Y./Grover Cleveland) started Lehman's rally by sinking a shot from beyond the arc to push the score to 19-15, with 9:47 left in the opening half. Minutes later, she attacked the paint to lay the ball up and in to tie the game at 19.

Freshman guard Genesis Liberato (Santo Domingo, D.R./Liceo Ramon Matias Mella) then took a feed from Navarro and nailed a three-pointer of her own to put Lehman in front for good. Freshman guard Amely Del Rosario (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) capped off Lehman's long run by laying the ball in to put Lehman up, 28-19, with 4:02 left in the half.

York (3-20, 2-12 CUNYAC) would answer with a run of its own to cut Lehman's lead to 36-34 after 20 minutes of play.

In the beginning of the second half, junior forward Shalaya Nieves (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) started Lehman off on the right foot with a layup to extend Lehman's lead to four. Del Rosario continued the momentum by forcing a steal, which led to a fast break layup to increase Lehman's lead, 40-34, with 19:04 to go in regulation.

The Lightning fended off any rally the Cardinals were trying to execute and won the game, 77-67.

Del Rosario led the Lightning with 18 points, nine assists, six rebounds, three steals, and a block. Navarro had a productive night with 19 points, six assists, and four steals. Sophomore forward Amani Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexander Hamilton) also scored 19 points and had nine rebounds.  Nieves added 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Lightning will return home on Friday, February 14, for a CUNYAC contest against John Jay. The game is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.