New York, NY - The John Jay Bloodhounds topped Old Westbury 54-49 in women's basketball this evening at John Jay's Doghouse. The Panthers fall to 1-2 overall, while John Jay improves to 4-3 on the season.
John Jay pulled ahead early, taking a 10-0 lead over the first eight minutes. Old Westbury's Candyce Payton scored the Panthers' first point of the game, sinking a free throw at the 11:52 mark. Jennifer Hoyt connected on the next play for Old Westbury, sinking a lay-up to pull the Panthers within seven. John Jay kept Old Westbury at that distance for the remainder of the half, as the Bloodhounds held a 25-18 halftime lead.
John Jay extended its lead to 12 (40-28) in the second period, but two free throws by Janera Johnson at the 9:20 mark kicked off an 8-0 run by the Panthers, who cut the lead to four with 6:35 remaining.
The Bloodhounds answered and increased their lead back to 10 four minutes later. Old Westbury fought back and once again cut the lead to four, this time with 40 seconds on the clock on a basket by Monique Midy, but the Panthers would not get any closer, as Michelle Wallace sealed the win for John Jay with a made free throw with 12 seconds to play that put the Bloodhounds up by five.
Danna Purnell led Old Westbury with 11 points, while Johnson, Midy, Rachel Yambaye and Chanel Benjamin finished with six each.
Old Westbury returns to action on Tuesday at the College of New Rochelle.