The Baruch College Bearcats overcame a second half surge by the Lightning of Lehman College to record an exciting 52-48 CUNYAC quarterfinal home playoff win on Sunday afternoon in the ARC Arena.

The Bearcats took control early leading by as much as 26-12 with 4:10 left in the second period, but the visiting Lightning battled back scoring 13 of the last 17 points before the halftime break to cut the score to 30-25.

They continued their momentum at the start of the third period scoring the first six points for their first lead of 31-30. They would later go up 33-30 with 7:39 left after a pair of free throws by Chinera Ortiz.

The Bearcats did not lose their composure and later rallied back to take the lead 41-40 on a free throw by Angela Bacarella with 16 seconds left in the third.

Paige Traynor hit one of the biggest baskets of the contest with a three to help the lead grow to 44-40. A layup by Elissa Leung would take it to six points (48-42) with 5:10 left.

The visitors made one last run to cut the score to 50-48 with under two minutes remaining, but the Bearcat defense did not allow them to score again as a pair of free throws by Milly Ye
with nine seconds helped seal the post-season home win.

The Bearcats will next travel to play John Jay College on Tuesday night in a CUNYAC semifinal (time TBA).

Leung led the Bearcats with a career-high 17 points. Melinda Spahiu (five assist) and Paige Traynor had 11 each. Milly Ye finished with 10.

Mojisola Shokeye led the Lightning with 17 points.

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals (at Higher Seed) – Sunday, Feb. 20
#2 John Jay 64, #7 CCNY 24
#3 Baruch 52, #6 Lehman 48
#5 Hunter 55, #4 York 47

Semifinals (at Higher Seed) – Tuesday, Feb. 22
#1 Brooklyn vs. #5 Hunter – 6:00 p.m.
#2 John Jay vs. #3 Baruch - TBA

Championship (at CCNY) – Friday, Feb. 25
Semifinal Winners, 5:30 p.m.