MARCY, N.Y.- SUNYIT Women's basketball team (8-5, 5-1 NEAC) came up short 85-83 to visiting St. Elizabeth College (10-4, 6-1 NEAC) in a NEAC Conference thriller. With just 10 seconds remaining in the game and the score tied, St. Elizabeth's Amerisse Rogers scored the 2 most important of her 17 points as she made a contested shot over defenders that proved to be the difference.

The Wildcats were able to go on a 15-0 run over a 6 minute period in the first half to take a 33-17 lead with 6 minutes to go in the first. With time running out, Tierney McGlynn (Watervliet, N.Y / Watervliet) pulled down a rebound, drove the length of the court and passed the ball off to Abbey Hanehan (Stillwater, N.Y / Stillwater) who laid it in as time expired to give SUNYIT the 42-34 halftime lead.

St. Elizabeth's was able to slowly chip away late in the first half and early in the second half to eventually take their first lead of the game, 53-52 with just under 12 minutes to go. From there it was a back and forth battle with the teams exchanging baskets. With just over a minute to go Ashley Cox (Bronx, N.Y. / Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics) drained a deep 3 to tie the game at 80 but the Wildcats were unable to pull out the win.

Both Lauren Knowles(Salisbury Mills, N.Y / Washingtonville) and Nijah Townsend (Bronx, N.Y / Truman) were able to tally double-doubles for the Wildcats, Lauren with 17 points 10 rebounds and Nijah with 13 points, 10 rebounds. Ashley Cox added 15 points as well for the hosts.

St. Elizabeth's had 5 players score in double figures, led by Ashley Pledger's 20 points to lead them to the victory.

The Wildcats return to the court Wednesday at 8:00 pm to host Wells College in another NEAC battle in the Campus Center Gym.