Fredericksburg, Va. – The Lehman College women's basketball team dropped its second-straight game in the Hyatt Place Tipoff Tournament from Fredericksburg, Virginia. On Saturday, the Lightning fell to #21/#24 Mary Washington, 72-58, but
Ayanna Behagen was named to the All-Tournament Team for her strong play in both games.
The Eagles jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the first quarter. Lehman responded with baskets from
Lynda Fields and
Alliyah Dorsett to close the gap to 5-4. Mary Washington eventually pushed the lead to six points, but a Behagen jumper at 5:00 brought Lehman within a possession, at 11-8. The Eagles led 20-13 after one quarter.
Both teams turned up the defensive pressure early in the second quarter as the game went scoreless until 7:52 remained on the clock when the Eagles made a basket to go up nine, 22-13. The largest lead of the half for Mary Washington came at the 6:41 mark, when a Kendall Parker three-pointer made the score 27-13. Lehman got the deficit to ten points with 3:16 left.
Then the Lightning closed out the half with a 9-2 run pull within three points, 34-31, at the half.
Lynda Fields began the rally with a three-pointer. She added a free throw to pull the team within six. Jumpers from
Lillybeth Garcia and Behagen capped the run.
The hot streak continued in the third quarter, where Lehman used the first 2:15 to go on a 9-0 run and turn a three point deficit into a five point cushion.
Selena Lopez opened the run with a pair of free throws.
Lynda Fields tied the game with another foul shot. A layup from Fields and a three-pointer by Garcia put the Lightning up, 39-34.
Mary Washington took control from there and never looked back. They built a ten-point lead by the end of the third quarter and pushed it to as many as 19 points before winning, 72-58.
Lehman is now 1-2 on the season after dropping both games at the Hyatt Place Tipoff Tournament. Fields led the team with 14 points (on 5-8 shooting) and dished out four assists. Behagen had 13 points and three steals, while Garcia finished with a dozen. In earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team, Behagen averaged 13.5 points and four steals.
The Lehman College women's basketball team returns to action on Monday, November 27, when they travel to Morristown, New Jersey to meet the College of St. Elizabeth at 5:30 PM.
