Box Score

The New York University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2010-11 season, falling to Farmingdale State College 59-50 at the Coles Sports Center on Wednesday, December 1.

NYU (4-1) led early in the contest, but went nearly nine minutes without scoring as the Rams (3-2) took control.

The Violets led 6-4 following a jumper by Tara Bertino with 14:27 left in the opening half.  However, NYU did not score again until Kelly Loughney hit a layup with 5:37 remaining.  During that drought, Farmingdale scored 17 unanswered points and took a 21-6 lead.

NYU did manage to pull within four, 23-19, on Erica Franke's three-pointer with 2:54 left in the period. That was as close as the Violets would get the rest of the evening, however, as Farmingdale scored the final seven points of the half.

The Rams extended their lead to as many as 17 points in the second half, while NYU never got closer than eight.  They did so for the final time when Chelsea's Blake's layup made the score 57-49 with just 22 seconds remaining.

"In basketball, it's not about who's the better team, it's about who's better on that night," Blake said.  "They're a hard-working team and they wanted it more."

The Violets shot just 31.3% (20-64) for the game while committing 20 turnovers.  While the Rams only shot 31% (18-59), they committed five fewer turnovers and outscored the Violets 17-5 from the charity stripe.

The Violets' Maggie Ely led all scorers with 18 points, one short of her career high. Blake added 12 points and a game-high five assists.

Franke and Loughney led NYU with seven rebounds apiece.

Nikita Green had 17 points for Farmingdale, with Shemique Hooks adding 10.  

Natasha Smalls led all rebounders with 14.

The Violets return to action this Saturday when they host Baruch College at 4:00 pm.