Bryn Athyn, Pa.: The SUNY Cobleskill women's basketball team's drive towards the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) took a hit on Sunday afternoon as the Fighting Tigers were out battled by the Lions of Bryn Athyn College 78-71 in league action. The loss drops Cobleskill to 13-10 overall with a 9-7 mark in league play while the Lions improve to 18-4 overall including a 14-3 record versus conference opponents.

The Fighting Tigers led the high scoring affair entering the fourth quarter 59-56 in a seesaw contest that would eventually feature: 11 ties and 15 lead changes. Cobleskill would tie the game for the last time with 2:09 remaining at 67-67 on a lay-up by freshman guard Shaliyah Graham, Bronx, N.Y., Martin Luther King Jr. High School.

The Lions would respond with a pair of baskets to take a 71-67 lead with 1:18 left to play then senior forward Shelby Preston, Ravena, N.Y., Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, scored on a drive to make it 71-69 cutting the deficit to a basket with 1:01 remaining in regulation.

However that was as close as the Fighting Tigers would come as down the stretch the home team outscored the visitors 7-to-2 as the Orange & Black would go 1-for-5 from the field while the Lions would connect on 7-of-8 free throw attempts as Cobleskill was forced into a fouling situation.

Shelby Preston turned in an outstanding effort in defeat posting a double/double with 27 points and 15 rebounds while Sheliyah Graham would chip in 16 points and eight rebounds on the afternoon. Freshman guard Addy Lawson, Milford, N.Y., Milford High School, once again filled the stat column with 11 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals with senior forward Ashley Creighton, Niskayuna, N.Y., Catholic Central High School/Schenectady Community College, adding 10 points and seven rebounds.

Cobleskill will close out the regular season next weekend when they host a pair of NEAC rivals taking on the Nittany Lions of Penn State Berks on Friday February 17^th at 5:00 PM prior to hosting the Chargers of Lancaster Bible College on Saturday February 18^th at 1:00 p.m.

The Fighting Tigers are currently tied with Keuka College for third place in the NEAC North Division with identical 9-7 records one game behind Morrisville State College who are in second place with a 10-6 league record and a half game ahead of Wells College who are currently holding the fifth spot in the divisional standings with an 8-7 conference record. The division's top three teams will receive automatic bids to the NEAC Championship Tournament while the winner in the game between the fourth place teams in each division game will also receive a league tournament bid.