Brooklyn, NY---In a matchup of CUNYAC division leaders, the Brooklyn College Women's Basketball Team used a strong defensive performance to knock off the visiting Hunter, 55-47, on Saturday afternoon in the West Quad Center. The Bulldogs improve to 10-5 overall and 4-0 in the conference, while the Hawks, who entered the game 3-0 in league play, and leading the North Division, fall to 3-1 and into a tie with Baruch in the standings.

"Today was a huge game for us as we got the chance play for the top record in the conference," said Head Coach Alex Lang. "Our effort was there defensively for 40 minutes and that was the key to the victory."

Brooklyn opened the game with nine consecutive points to take an early lead, but the team struggled to get into their offense and allowed Hunter to rally to tie the game at 13 on a Megan McKenna jumper.

Brooklyn answered with two Nicole Francomano free throws to retake the lead, 15-13. The Bulldogs would end the half on a 6-0 run, taking a 23-16 lead into the break, as Melissa St. Louis, Tiffany Thompson and Nicole Francomano would score on consecutive possessions.

The second half was all BC in the early going as a Kelly Jamison layup capped a 16-7 run to begin the period. The bucket would give the Bulldogs a seemingly insurmountable, 39-23 lead, with 14:47 remaining.

Hunter would not go quietly as they chipped away at the Bulldog lead and with 5:32 remaining, a Lauren Plagainos foul sent McKenna to the line for two free throws and a chance to cut the lead back to single digits. The foul was also Plagainos' fifth, forcing the team's leading scorer on the season to the bench.

McKenna made one of two to cut the deficit to nine, 47-38. Another Hunter basket would cut the margin to seven, before Francomano would answer with a basket, and then after a Hawk turnover, Charnelle Saint Laurent would hit a three-pionter to put the lead to 12 and the game out of reach for Hunter.

Francomanowas the high scorer for BC on teh day with 13 points. Saint Laurent added 11 points, five assists and seven steals. Plagainos and Justine O'Callahan each chipped in with eight, while Thompson added six points, eight boards and two blocks.

Hunter was led by Alease Vaughan's 14 points, while McKenna added 13.

Brooklyn will look to another conference foe on Wednesday as they take on Lehman College at 6 pm. Due to stuctural probelms with Lehman's gymnasium, the game will be played at the Borough of Manhattan Community College Gym.