The women's basketball team picked up its first win of the 2019-20 season after topping St. Joseph's College Long Island, 75-67, on Saturday afternoon in Patchogue, NY. The Bloodhounds improve to 1-2 on the season. The Golden Eagles drop to 0-2 on the year. 

Sophomore Lily Rakitzis recorded a career-high and game-high 34 points, six rebounds, and three assists. The guard/forward went 11-for-18 from the field and an impressive 12-for-13 from the charity stripe. Senior Nyasha Howard picked up her second double-double of the season with 10 points, a season-high and game-high 19 rebounds, and a game-high three blocks. 

Senior All'aha Albright fell one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points, nine rebounds, and a pair of steals. Junior Jessica Gorman added nine points and six boards. 

John Jay jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the opening quarter. The hosts cut the deficit to three but the Bloodhounds followed with eight straight points. Rakitzis scored John Jay's final six of eight points to give them a 25-9 advantage at the end of one. 

Two minutes into the second, John Jay quickly increased its lead to 20. The Bloodhounds would head into halftime leading 45-24. Rakitzis led the way with a game-high 21 points in the half. 

SJC scored the first five points of the third quarter but Rakitzis responded with back-to-back layups. The Golden Eagles trimmed down the deficit to eight but Albright made a late layup to increase the advantage to 57-47 heading into the final period. 

Trailing by 10, SJC went on a 6-0 run with 8:12 left in regulation. Up by seven, the Bloodhounds made two straight baskets and converted on late free-throws to seal the victory. 

John Jay finished 24-for-61 (39.3%) from the floor, 5-for-15 (33.3%) from behind the arc, and 22-for-28 (78.6%) from the free-throw line. 

The Bloodhounds return to the Doghouse for a non-conference match against Old Westbury on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:00 pm. The game will be live streamed at www.johnjayathletics.com/watch.