Brooklyn, NY---The Brooklyn College Women's Basketball Team won their eighth consecutive game on Monday night, knocking off first place Baruch, 71-51, as the Bearcats fell for just the first time in conference play.  The win brings the Bulldogs record to 17-5, 11-2 in CUNYAC, while Baruch falls to 20-2, 13-1.

The contest was a rematch of last season's CUNYAC/Con Edison championship game, and the top two teams in the conference standings this season.  Baruch took the first of the two regular season meetings between these two squads back on January 8th, as they defeated the Bulldogs 67-54 on their home court.

Tonight, home cooking would help BC flip the result as they would pull out the victory and edge a game closer in the conference standings. 

The game began as a defensive battle as the teams played the first seven minutes to an 8-8 tie, with nothing coming easy on either end of the court.

Baruch got an Iyana Abrams bucket and two Lynda Fields free throws to take a 12-8 advantage, but Brooklyn answered with a Brittany Bowen three to cut the deficit to one. 

After the Bearcats increased the lead to three, at 18-15, a Vanessa D'Ambrosi three tied the game, and then a Tiffany Thompson basket would give BC the lead, 20-18. 

Baruch tied the game immediately on an Imani Davidson field goal, however Brooklyn's Charnelle Saint Laurent would put her team up four at the break by scoring six consecutive points to end the half. 

The Bulldogs went to the locker room up 26-22, and got two Thompson scores to start the second half to push the lead to eight, however Baruch would go on a 13-4 run, capped by a Davidson jumper, to take a 37-34 advantage with 14:31 remaining.

Brooklyn guard Zoe Randolph would answer with a three-pointer to tie the game at 37, sparking a 9-0 BC run, to give the home squad a six point lead.  The visitors would hang tough and score five consective points to cut the deficit to one, 43-42, with 10:20 remaining.

It was at this point that the Bulldogs took control of the game.  Two D'Ambrosi three's, a Bowen three and a Thompson bucket would make up an 11-0 run to stretch the lead to 12.  Following two Jessica Duleba free throws to cut the BC advantage to 10, Brooklyn would go on a 15-4 run, capped by Bowen's third triple of the night, to take a commanding 21-point advantage with 3:14 to go.

D'Ambrosi led all scorers on the evening with 23 points, while also pulling down nine boards, dishing out four assists and nabbing six steals. 

Thompson had a huge double double, with 14 points and 15 boards on the night, while Bowen scored 15 points. 

Saint Laurent chipped in with 10 points and three steals, while Nicole Francomano dished out four assists.  Trina Payne came off the BC bench to score four points and dish out three assists as well.

Duleba led Baruch with 16 points, while Sheridan Taylor led the Bearcats with eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

Brooklyn will return to action on Wednesday as they travel to third place John Jay for a 5:00 pm start.  The Bulldogs will be looking for their eight straight victory.