Brooklyn, NY---The Brooklyn College Women's Basketball Team (15-10) closed out the regular season at home, falling 78-71 to Old Westbury on Wednesday evening.  Before the contest, the team's four seniors, Ariel Smith, Ashley Allen, Amber Gordon and Elisha Raiford were honored as a part of Senior Night.

The Bulldogs started the game on top as they took an early 6-0 lead on a Gordon layup and then consecutive baskets from Smith forcing the Panthers to burn an early time out.

Old Westbury answered with a 7-4 run to cut the deficit to three, 10-7.  After a Raiford free throw, Old Westbury's Brittany Jones connected on a three to cut the BC lead to 1, 11-10. 

Lauren Plagainos answered right back with a three of her own to extend the Bulldog advantage back to four, 14-10, with 12:44 remaining. 

BC would stretch the advantage to their biggest of the half at the 6:03 mark when Raiford would connect on a layup to give her team an eight-point, 22-14 lead.

The Panthers would come right back, as they went on a remarkable 9-0 run, capped by a Kim Weathers basket, to take their first lead of the contest, 23-22, with 4:03 to play in the half. 

That lead would be short-lived as an Amber Gordon free throw would tie the game up at 23.  The Bulldogs would close the half on a 11-7 run to take a 34-30 lead into the intermission.

The second half would be back and forth as the Panthers battled to tie the contest at 39 on a Weathers basket, however Smith would answer right back with a three-pointer to give her team a 42-39 advantage.

After a Smith foul, Old Westbury's Jones would come back with another three-pointer to tie the game once again.  This time, however, Brooklyn had no answer and the Panthers would buld a 14-point lead, 71-57, with 4:53 left in the game.

The Bulldogs would not quit, as they chipped away at the lead, cutting it to three, 74-71, with 49 seconds remaining. 

The Panthers did not seem to know what to do against the BC pressure, however Raiford made too much contact on Weathers as she tried to allude a trap, sending the guard to the foul line. The freshman connected on both attempts, giving her team the insurmountable five-point advantage. 

Weathers scored 36 points while going 15-18 from the free throw line.  Jones chipped in with 17.

Brooklyn ws led by Smith's 21 points, seven assists, eight boards and six steals.  Plagainos chipped in with 13.

Gordon, Raiford and Tiayana Logan each dropped nine points as well for BC.

Next game for the Bulldogs will be in the CUNYAC / Con Edison Basketball Championship Quarterfinal Round as they take on Staten Island this Saturday, February 19th at 1pm.  The game will be in the West Quad Center on the campus of Brooklyn College. Fans should arrive early to get a good seat.