PATCHOUGUE, NY – Down by as many as 12 points in the second half, The College of New Rochelle rallied and had the ball trailing by three late in its non-conference road game at St. Joseph's College-Long Island Friday night, but a three point attempt with under 30 seconds remaining did not fall as the Eagles held on for a 57-52 win.

Jah-Leah Ellis recorded game-highs with 26 points and 12 rebounds.  Rookie Caitlin Harrison added 10 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Jennifer Gubbel led a balanced St. Joe's attack with 12 points, as eight Eagles scored between four and 12 points.

The Blue Angels struggled at the charity stripe, converting just 38.7% (12-31) from the line.

St. Joe's jumped out to an early lead, scoring 13 of the first 17 points of the game to take a 13-4 lead over the first six minutes of the game.  CNR responded with a 13-3 run of its own to a take its lone lead of the game, 17-16, with 8:14 left in the half following an Ellis jumper.  The Eagles retook the lead on the next made basket and led by as many as six before taking a two point, 30-28, lead into the break.

Both teams struggled offensively to begin the second half, with an Indigo Flowers free throw providing the only scoring for either team over the first four minutes of the second stanza.  Leading by one, 30-29, at that point, St. Joe's gradually increased its lead over the next six minutes, reaching the high water mark of 12, 43-31, with 10:23 remaining.  A quick 7-0 Blue Angel run, with six of the seven coming from Ellis, brought CNR to within five, 43-38, with just over six minutes remaining.  Another Ellis jumper cut the deficit to a single point, 52-51, with 1:19 remaining, but CNR did not get off a shot to tie or take the lead until the late missed three pointer.

The Blue Angels return to action on Sunday, hosting Albany College of Pharmacy in a HVIAC matchup slated to begin at 1:00 PM at the Wellness Center.