OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. --- (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) SUNY Old Westbury women's basketball returned to campus Saturday afternoon and fell 48-40 to the Skyline Conference defending champions United States Merchant Marine Academy (6-3, 4-2 Skyline) in league play inside Clark Athletic Center. The setback moves Old Westbury (5-8, 5-3 Skyline) to a 2-5 mark against USMMA since the Mariners rejoined the conference in 2016-17.
 
Taylor Hightower laid in two points 13 seconds into the game to kickstart a 8-2 run for USMMA. La'Niya Clark dropped in two at the 4:17 mark for Old Westbury to respond with six-unanswered points and tie the game at 8 before the Mariners closed the quarter with the 12-8 lead. Micah Browne and Melinda Harris poured in four points for the Panthers to knot the game at 12 with 5:54 remaining in the second stanza.  19 seconds later, Kiana Vega drained a three-pointer to ignite a 10-0 run during the span of 5:01 for USMMA to push its lead to 10 points, 22-12. Old Westbury pulled within six after Paige Brown's and Davida Warren's layups to send the 22-16 game into the break.
 
Old Westbury came out the third-quarter gates strong by putting together a much needed 8-2 run, headlined  by Clark's six points, and made it a 24-all game with 7:18 left. USMMA maintained their composure answered back with a 10-4 spurt over the remaining 6:56 to regain the six point lead, 34-28, going into the final quarter. The Mariners used a 10-1 run, capped by Vega's jumper, to extend its lead to a game-high 15 points (44-29) with 5:22 showing on the fourth-quarter clock.  Browne scored six of Old Westbury's last 11 points over the remaining 3:45 to settle the 48-40 final.
 
Browne finished with 10 points (5-of-10 FG), five rebounds and a career-best five steals while Ja'nya Flash added seven rebounds to pace Old Westbury.
 
Kaleigh D'Arcy led all scorers with 14 points (5-of-11 FG, 4-of-5 FT) to go along with nine rebounds and three steals to lead USMMA to victory. Lauren Hunter followed with 10 points and six rebounds while Madison Demos pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
In the end, Old Westbury finished the afternoon shooting 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the field, 20 percent (2-of-10) from three-point territory and 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from the free-throw line.  USMMA connected on 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the field, 11.1 percent (1-of-9) from beyond the arc and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the charity stripe.  The Panthers won the boards battle, 39-38, while the Mariners scored 14 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds.  USMMA outplayed Old Westbury in assists (12-6), blocks, (2-1), steals (15-11), points in the paint (28-26) and bench points (9-4). Old Westbury held the edge in fastbreak points (6-2) while scoring 13 points off 17 Mariner turnovers.

UP NEXT:
Old Westbury remain on campus Tuesday (Jan. 14) for a Skyline Conference showdown against the Manhattanville College Valiants (11-1, 7-1 Skyline) at 6 p.m. inside Clark Athletic Center.

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