New York, NY - The John Jay women's basketball team commenced 2026 with a 57-44 home triumph in the Bloodhounds' non-conference finale over the visiting University of Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, head coach
Lynda Day earned her 100th career victory at the helm of the Bloodhounds, becoming the first coach in the history of the program to amass 100 victories.
Three Bloodhounds finished in double-figures, led by
Michaela Lattimore, who netted a game-high 13 points while pulling a game-best 16 rebounds, her ninth double-double of the season. The Morristown, NJ native added a career-high five steals while notching three blocks.
Bryan Bascones added 12 points on an efficient 5 of 9 shooting from the floor while adding four rebounds.
Natalie Simonds chipped in ten points while filling up the stat sheet with five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block.
Grace Kennedy was the lone Dolphin to score in double-figures, as she paced the team with 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Bloodhounds jumped out to a 6-0 lead following a
Briana Minick layup. The visitors answered back with a 6-0 run of their own, holding the Bloodhounds without a made field goal over the next three minutes. John Jay closed out the first quarter scoring six of the final eight points, as Minick's layup doubled the lead, 12-6, before Julia Angeles hit a hitter before the first quarter buzzer sounded.
John Jay built a 21-14 advantage in the second quarter, as the Bloodhounds held the Dolphins to just a 3 of 12 shooting display over a 5:30 span. UMSV closed the quarter out on a 6-0 run and led 22-21 heading into the break after Angelina Escobinas made both free-throw attempts.
Both teams shot 24.0 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, with the Dolphins holding a 28-26 edge on the boards. The Bloodhounds scored 14 of their 21 points from inside the paint in the opening half.
John Jay came out for the second half, staging an 8-0 run, to go ahead 29-22, as Lattimore converted on a layup off the feed from
Miah Crockett. UMSV hit back-to-back three-pointers from Michael Ligon and Ashley Marrocco to get to within one, 29-28, before
Essence Richardson hit a three-pointer from the left wing that stopped the Dolphins' run with under a minute to go in the quarter. Lattimore closed the frame with a layup, as Bascones was able to deliver the pass in the paint.
The Dolphins seized momentum away from the Bloodhounds to start the fourth quarter, sparking an 8-2 run in tying the game at 36-36 following a three-pointer from Ligon. Lattimore halted the run with a layup to give the lead back to John Jay.
The Bloodhounds didn't look back from that point, finishing the game on a 19-8 run, while holding the visitors to just 22.2 percent shooting from the field (4 of 18) down the stretch with Simonds and
Kailani Galan combining for 11 of the 19 points scored.
For the game, John Jay shot 30.1 percent from the field (22 of 73) while holding a +8 advantage on the boards, 58-50, and a 42-37 edge on the defensive glass. The Bloodhounds' defense forced 22 turnovers, while scoring 16 points and recording 12 steals in the contest.
The women's basketball team remains home and resumes CUNYAC play on Wednesday, January 7, as the Bloodhounds welcome Hunter to The Doghouse. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.
