NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's basketball team suffered a hard-fought loss to Purchase College, 62-48, at the ARC Arena on Tuesday evening.
History was made as senior forward Michal Alge became the program's all-time leading scorer. Alge came into the game tied for first with Yeshiva University Athletics Hall of Famer Daniela Epstein ('03) with 1,134 career points. The Boston native's historic basket occurred 4:02 into the contest, as she received a pass from senior guard Nicole Bick and drained a jump shot to move into sole position of first-place on the program's all-time scoring list.
With seven points scored during the game, Alge now has 1,141 career points. The fourth-year forward is also the program's all-time leading rebounder with 1,215 boards in her illustrious career. She is the only 1,000-1,000 player in team history.
"I think it's pretty special to break the (scoring) record on senior night, on our home court, with my family and friends here," Alge said. "I'm thankful for the four years I have been able to play. I'm excited for the women's department to keep growing and I'm excited for more girls to come and break more and more records."
Alge, along with graduating seniors Nicole Bick and Penny Rabin, were honored with a senior night ceremony. For the game, Bick scored a game-high 19 points, brought down five rebounds, and dished out three assists. Rabin nailed a 3-point shot, clutched four caroms, and forced two steals. Alge tied a game-high with 12 rebounds, while distributing three assists, collecting three steals, and blocking three shots.
The Maccabees (6-17, 3-14 Skyline) got off to a strong start, as Alge's record-setting jump shot extended her team's lead to 6-2. On Yeshiva's next possession, sophomore forward Lindsay Brandwein fed the ball to junior forward Tehilla Teigman, who converted a layup to put the Macs up by six, with 5:18 remaining in the period. However, the Panthers (13-11, 9-8 Skyline) rallied with 10 unanswered points to take a 12-8 advantage. Yeshiva countered with 10 straight points of its own, capped off by a 3-point field goal from Bick, to put YU up by a score of 18-12 with 35 ticks left on the clock. YU had the lead, 18-14, after 10 minutes of play.
Brandwein tipped the ball into the basket, off a missed shot, to extend the Macs' lead to 21-16, 3:31 into the second stanza. Purchase answered with six straight points to take a one-point lead. After a pair of free throws from Bick put YU back up by one, a jump shot by junior forward Arta Krasniqi gave the visiting team the lead for good with 2:27 remaining in the first half. Purchase finished the quarter strong by scoring seven straight points to take a 33-25 lead into the intermission.
Rabin's 3-point basket to open the second half pulled YU to within five. After senior guard Amber Jones countered with a shot from beyond the arc, Yeshiva scored four straight points to cut the deficit in half, at 36-32. Purchase tilted momentum into its favor by scoring seven unanswered points to take a commanding 43-32 lead. Yeshiva trailed, 47-34, after 30 minutes of play.
Yeshiva battled back in the fourth quarter as Alge's layup sparked a 6-0 run for YU, that was capped off by a 3-point basket from Bick, to narrow the Panthers' lead to 50-44 with 3:07 remaining in regulation time. However, Jones answered with a 3-point shot of her own to give Purchase a nine-point hold. Yeshiva could not generate a run to get back into the game, and Purchase went on to earn the Skyline victory, 62-48.
For the Maccabees, Teigman scored six points with five rebounds. Brandwein added five boards with three steals, while sophomore guard Adina Rosenberg scored five points and grabbed two caroms. Freshman forward Elizabeth Pavelproduced four points with a pair of rebounds. Sophomore guard Leah Shulman had two points and a board, while sophomore forward Celia Cohen and classmate Tova Mamann each had a rebound. Junior forward Ellie Parker brought down three boards.
For the Panthers, Jones had a team-high 15 points, grabbed six rebounds, and forced three steals. Nyasia Harris produced a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman forward Shadai Plowden and senior guard Amber Yarter each scored 12 points and brought down five caroms, with the latter distributing five assists.
Yeshiva will close out the regular season on Saturday night, with a Skyline game against Farmingdale State, on the campus of Maritime College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:45 p.m.