NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Lehman College women's basketball team used a 24-0 run at the beginning of the game to seize control, and ultimately fended off host City College on Saturday afternoon, 66-61.  The Lightning are now 10-5 overall, and 4-2 in the CUNY Athletic Conference, while CCNY drops to 4-8, 3-4 CUNYAC.

As the game began, CCNY scored the game's first six points, before Lehman went on their incredible run. Freshman Amely Del Rosario (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) scored ten points during the stretch, while junior Shalaya Nieves (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) and sophomore Amani Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexandr Hamilton) each added six. Lehman eventually took a 37-29 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Beavers rallied, and cut the lead to just five points, 48-43, at the 9:24 mark. Minutes later, the lead was down to just two points at 52-50, with 5:12 to play. Freshman Genesis Liberato (Santo Domingo, D.R./Liceo Ramon Matias Mella) drained a three pointer, to momentarily stem the Beavers' run. The hosts continued to scrap, and eventually took the lead at 59-57, on a pair of free throws, with just under two minutes to play.

But Liberato drained another three ball, then Del Rosario made a layup, to put Lehman back up by three points.

CCNY managed to grab an offensive rebound and but the ball in with just eight seconds to go, cutting the lead to just one point with eight seconds to play.

But CCNY then made a major mistake - trying to call a timeout when they had none left. A technical foul was called on CCNY, which put Lehman sophomore Jennifer Navarro (Jamaica, N.Y./Grover Cleveland) on the free throw line, where she made a pair of shots to push the lead back to three points. Lehman then inbounded the ball to Navarro, who was promptly fouled. She made another pair of free throws, and Lehman held on for the 66-61 win.

On the day, Del Rosario led all scorers with 25 points, while adding seven rebound, five assists, and seven steals. Nieves notched her seventh double-double of the season, with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Lightbourne finished with 12 points, while Liberato added 10.

Lehman has a few days respite before hosting Baruch on Wednesday, January 15, at 5:30 p.m.