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BROOKLYN, NY (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) – The SUNY College at Old Westbury women's basketball team picked up a 45-44 Skyline Conference victory Sunday on the road against the NYU-Poly Fighting Blue Jays in Brooklyn, New York.  OW improves to 8-6 on the season and 4-2 in conference action while NYU-Poly dropped to 6-7 and 2-3, respectively.

Old Westbury's Clarissa Gallagher drilled a three-pointer to tie the game at 3-3 with 18.59 left in the first half.  Moments later, Abigail Williams knocked down a jumper to knot the game at 3-3 with 14:44 showing on the clock.  NYU-Poly went on a 10-2 run from 12:45 to 9:48 to take a 17-9 lead.  Trailing 19-11 with 18:06 left, OW went on a 13-2 run over the next 6:34 to go up 24-21.  NYU-Poly replied with a 5-0 run over the final 1:09 to take a 26-24 lead into the break.

NYU-Poly regained control to open the second half as the Fighting Blue Jays went ahead 36-31 with 14:09 remaining.  Old Westbury battled back with a 14-4 scoring spree from 13:21 to 2:10 to go ahead 45-40, their largest lead of the game.  NYU-Poly knocked down back-to-back jumpers to pull within 45-44 in the final minute.  Following a turnover by OW's Ruth Vargas, Shelby Bruns misfired on a possible game-winning jumper that rimmed out and propelled Old Westbury to victory. 

Deslyn Applewhaite led the squad with 15 points and three blocks.  Abigail Williams and Clarissa Gallagher followed with 10 point each.  Williams finished with nine rebounds (season-high) and two blocks.  Ruth Vargas grabbed 10 rebounds and nabbed three steals off the bench.

Tabitha Larsen poured in a game-high 23 points for NYU-Poly, including knocking down 5-of-9 from three-point land.  Shelby Bruns added 11 points and seven rebounds while Margaux Pickell pulled down 10 boards.     

NYU-Poly outshot Old Westbury from the field 33.3 percent (19-57) to 28.4 percent (19-67).  Old Westbury connected on 2-of-20 from the free-throw line while NYU-Poly knocked down 5-of-10.  OW enjoyed a 48-45 rebounding advantage, turning 18 offensive boards into 11 second chance points.  OW also converted 19 NYU-Poly turnovers into 17 points.

ST. JOSEPH'S-BROOKLYN BEARS UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: The Panthers return to the hardwood for non-conference action on Tuesday (Jan. 17) when they host the St. Joseph's-Brooklyn Bears in Old Westbury, New York.  Game time is set to tip at 7 p.m. inside the Clark Athletic Center. 

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