For the first 16 minutes of Lehman's Friday night matchup with New York City College of Technology, the visitors refused to follow the script that usually accompanies a game featuring a team with a 3-15 record against a team with an 11-8 record.

Riding a bruising inside game from Kimberly Battle (11 points, 8 rebounds in the first half), the scrappy Yellow Jackets scratched and clawed with the Lightning, and after Erica Simon's jump shot with 6:24 remaining, trailed only 19-18.

The Lightning answered with an 11-0 run, however, behind layups from Taniefa Taylor and Paula Robinson, a three-pointer by Chris Mary Martinez and two layups by Amanda De La Cruz, and went into the locker room ahead 30-18.

City Tech continued to exhibit a fighting spirit following the halftime intermission. The Yellow Jackets managed to make the Lightning sweat using a mini 6-0 spurt to close to within 32-26 on two free throws by Battle with 17:22 showing on the game clock.

Lashay Bentley's jumper stemmed the tide, followed by back-to-back baskets by De La Cruz that opened up a 12-point cushion. Minutes later Louvinia Hayes sandwiched two three-pointers around a free throw by Simon to increase the Lightning lead to 44-29 and open the floodgates on what would end up a 79-45 rout.

Lehman's lead reached as high as 36 points several times during the remainder of the sloppy second half thanks to a 53-percent shooting (21-for-40) performance comprised mainly of layups off turnovers. For the game the Lightning generated 26 points off the Yellow Jackets 33 turnovers.

De La Cruz once again was high-point woman for the Lightning, finishing with 23 points. Her partner in crime, Hayes, was right behind her with 22 points while adding 10 rebounds. Jaleesa Gordon notched her third consecutive double-double since returning to the lineup, totaling 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

The Lightning is not back in action until it hosts the City College of New York on Groundhog Day, February 2.