NEW YORK, N.Y. - Double-doubles from Leslie Mencia and Jaleesa Gordon were not enough for the Lightning women's basketball team on Wednesday night as Lehman lost round one of its annual battle for CUNYAC supremacy with the host Baruch Bearcats, 63-53, to drop to 7-9 on the season.

Mencia was high woman for the Lightning with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Jaleesa Gordon, CUNYAC's reigning Player of the Week, scored 13 points and ripped down 13 boards, but did not shoot particularly well, converting just 5-of-18 from the field.

Neither the Lightning (33 percent) nor the Bearcats (33 percent) were efficient shooting the basketball, but Baruch dominated Lehman on the backboards, holding a 61-41 edge in rebounding.  That margin included a stunning 28 offensive rebounds for Baruch.

Lehman did not start the game well, falling behind 14-2 after nearly 10 minutes of the first half.  Down 20-10 following a layup by Frances Henry, the Lightning finally got its offense on track, kickstarted by a jumper from Mencia.

Chris Mary Martinez then nailed a three-pointer and Mencia drained back-to-back threes of her own to cap a quick 11-0 run that left Lehman up 21-20 with 2:43 remaining before halftime.  A free throw by Alicea Ulmer broke Baruch's scoreless drought and tied the game, only to have Alicia McDaniel untie things with a jump shot just before the close of the half with Lehman up 23-21.

The Lightning could not sustain the momentum once the second half started, however, as Baruch opened with a 10-0 run to take a 31-23 lead.  Martinez converted on her second triple of the game to draw Lehman back within 31-26.  Lehman next crept two closer on a bucket from McDaniel.

Down three with 15:53 to go, Lehman would get no closer as Baruch eventually opened up a double-digit lead on its way to the victory.

The Bearcats were led by Jessica Duleba's 20 points.

Lehman played without second-leading scorer Amanda De La Cruz for the second straight game.

Next up for the Lightning will be Medgar Evers on January 14 at New Roc City in New Rochelle.