The women's basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to defeat York College, 57-43, on Thursday evening on the campus of Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY. The Bloodhounds improve to 5-21 overall. The Cardinals end the season at 2-23. 

"I am so proud of this group of young ladies and what they have accomplished over the past four months." head coach Lynda Day said. "Our senior leadership from our captains Cassandra Taylor and Claire Prince was the glue that kept us together all year."  

Senior Cassandra Taylor led all scorers with 24 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists. Junior Dana Nicholson recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Senior Claire Prince registered a game-high 12 boards and four steals. Senior Shaliyah Ruiz added seven points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Freshmen Uju Nwaigwe and Kaitlin Koehler combined for 12 points and 11 boards. 

The game started with both teams exchanging baskets as John Jay led 4-3. The Bloodhounds and Cardinals struggled shooting the next five minutes as neither team recorded any points. A three by Taylor increased the lead to 7-3 with 3:47 left. With the score tied 11-11, Taylor hit a three-point buzzer beater to put the Bloodhounds up 14-11 after one. 

Taylor opened the second with a jumper and a three pointer by Nicholson gave the Bloodhounds an 18-11 lead. York followed on an 8-0 run to tie the game 19-19 with 7:38 remaining in the opening half. With the Cardinals ahead by two, Ruiz and Taylor hit back-to-back three's and John Jay went into halftime holding a 30-27 advantage. 

York scored the first four points of the third but Ruiz and Koehler responded with layups to put the Bloodhounds back in the lead, 34-31. York tied the score but an 8-0 run by John Jay gave them a 42-37 advantage heading into the fourth. 

The Cardinals quickly cut the deficit to two but the Bloodhounds broke open the game with 15 straight points. John Jay would hold on for a 57-43 win in the opening round of the postseason. 

"This win tonight is the first step in building a successful future for this program," concluded Day. 

John Jay finished 24-for-67 (35.8%) from the field, 9-for-31 (29.0%) from behind the arc, and 0-4 (0.0%) from the free throw line. 

The #6 Bloodhounds will now travel to #3 College of Staten Island on Saturday, February 18, at 1:00 pm for the CUNYAC second round.