New York, N.Y.: Trailing on the road by 17 points late; the SUNY Cobleskill women's basketball team's staged a spirited comeback effort that fell short in New York City on Saturday afternoon, as the Fighting Tigers fell to the Bearcats of host Baruch College 72-71 in non-league action. With the loss the Fighting Tigers drop to 1-4 overall on the season while the Bearcats remain unbeaten on the year at 5-0.

After leading by a 14-11 margin after the first quarter the Fighting Tigers went cold in the second quarter to trail by 37-30 at the half and then found themselves behind at 60-43 with 2:55 left to play in the third quarter.

It was at that point that coach Megan Bowman extended the Cobleskill defense and threw a voracious full-court press at the Bearcats which led to a 19-to-2 run by the visitors that tied the game at 62-62 with 6:33 left in regulation when freshman forward Anna Post, Bovina Center, N.Y., Delaware Academy, converted on a lay-up off the pressure.

After the teams traded field goals to tie the score at 64-64 with 5:50 left to play, Baruch would go on a 6-to-1 run making it 60-55 Bearcats with 3:50 left in the game.

The Fighting Tigers then once again cranked up their defensive intensity and held the home team scoreless in subsequent possessions which allowed junior guard Nylasia Sutton, Queens, N.Y., Lansingburgh High School/Herkimer Community College, to strike from long range converting on a pair of three-point field goals to give the Orange & Black a 71-70 lead with 2:04 left in regulation.

With neither team able to score on multiple opportunities over the next several possessions, Bearcat junior forward Daniela Zirpolo, Bronx, N.Y., Baruch College Campus High School, grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled with 25 seconds left to play. Zirpolos then converted a pair of free throws to make it 72-71 Baruch.

The Fighting Tigers next brought the ball up court and used a pair of time-outs to set up a last second shot for freshman guard/forward Megan Hughes, Warrensburg, N.Y., Warrensburg High School, that rimed no good at the buzzer to give the home team the 72-71 decision.  

Sophomore guard TyLysa Martinez, Coram, N.Y., Longwood High School, came off the bench for the visitors to score a team high of 19 points to go with six rebounds and four assists on the afternoon while Nylasia Sutton hit for 16 points highlighted by a 5-for-9 effort from three-point range.

The Cobleskill bench was also highly productive with strong showings from: junior guard Monique Britton, Westerlo, N.Y., Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School, with 10 points and five rebounds, Anna Post who had nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals and from Megan Hughes who netted eight points and grabbed five rebounds on the afternoon.  

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Tuesday November 26^th when they host the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton College at the Iorio Gymnasium with tip-off scheduled for 5:00 p.m.