KINGS POINT, N.Y. --- (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) SUNY Old Westbury women's basketball suffered a 49-38 Skyline Conference road setback to the defending champions United States Merchant Marine Academy (14-3, 11-2 Skyline) Tuesday evening inside Liebertz Gymnasium in Kings Point, New York. The loss moves Old Westbury (7-11, 7-6 Skyline) to a 2-6 mark against USMMA since the Mariners rejoined the conference in 2016-17.
 
USMMA took an 8-4 lead 3:31 into the opening quarter capped by a Madison Demos' layup. At the 4:16 mark, Davida Warren laid in two to ignite an 11-4 run for Old Westbury to claim the 15-12 advantage heading into the second quarter.  Ja'nya Flash dropped in a layup 51 seconds into the second stanza for the Panthers to push its lead to a team-high five points, 17-12. The Marines responded by putting together a 10-2 run from 6:23 to 23 seconds to take the 22-19 lead. With two seconds left, La'Niya Clark knocked down a triple to send the 22-all game into the break.
 
15 seconds into the third stanza, Lauren Hunter's layup kickstarted a 17-6 USMMA spurt over the quarter's 8:28 to build the 11 point cushion, 39-28. Micah Browne and Flash scored back-to-back points in the paint for the Panthers to trim the deficit to seven (39-32) in the remaining 1:06 heading into the final quarter of play. The Mariners remained in the driver's seat over the course of 7:26 of the fourth quarter by using an 8-3 run to extend the lead to a game-high 12 points, 47-35. Warren completed a three-point play at the 1:50 mark to pull Old Westbury within nine points, 47-38, before Hunter sank a pair of free-throws with 14 seconds left for USMMA to settle the 49-38 final.
 
Clark finished with 16 points (6-of-18 FG, 4-of-12 3FG) to pace Old Westbury.Warren followed with 10 points (4-of-11 FG, 2-of-3 FT) and 12 rebounds to post her 32nd-career double-double (12th on season).
 
Kaleigh D'Arcy led the way for USMMA with 16 points (10-of-10 FT), five rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks. Hunter chipped in 14 points (6-of-15 FG, 2-of-2 FT) and 10 rebounds (seven offensive). Taylor Hightower pulled down a game-best 13 rebounds (seven offensive) and dished out a game-high seven assists.
 
In the end, Old Westbury finished the evening shooting 26.8 percent (15-of-56) from the field, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from three-point territory and 80 percent (4-of-5) from the free-throw line.  USMMA connected on 28.8 percent (17-of-59) from the field, 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from beyond the arc and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the charity stripe.  The Mariners won the boards battle, 43-41, while scoring 15 second-chance points off 17 offensive rebounds. USMMA outplayed Old Westbury in assists (13-5), blocks (6-3), steals (7-2), points in the paint (22-20) and bench points (2-0) while scoring 14 points off 19 Panther turnovers. Old Westbury held the edge in fastbreak points (4-0).

UP NEXT:
Old Westbury travels to Purchase, New York Thursday (Jan. 30) for a Skyline Conference showdown against the Manhattanville College Valiants (15-2, 11-2 Skyline) at 6 p.m. inside Kennedy Gymnasium.

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