BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's basketball team returned from the break with a strong effort, defeating The King's College N.Y. by a score of 78-49, at the Aviator Sports and Events Center on Thursday evening. The Maccabees advance to 4-9, while the Lions drop to 3-5.

"Solid team effort," Yeshiva University Head Coach Michael Alon said. "Good to be back on the court after a long break."

Leading the way for the Maccabees was freshman guard Yuval Nitzan, who produced a game-best 22 points, forced four steals, dished out three assists, and grabbed just as many rebounds. First-year guard Jessie Orgel netted 14 points, while clutching seven rebounds and collecting three steals. Sophomore forward Mahlia Leventhal  had a solid game with seven points and 10 rebounds, while adding three assists and two steals.

The game was tied, 8-8, but Yeshiva finished the opening quarter strong by scoring the last 11 points of the stanza to take a commanding 19-8 hold after 10 minutes of play. The Macs' defense held the Lions scoreless for the final 5:47 of the period. Nitzan and Orgel each connected from inside and outside the arc during the Blue and White's run.

King's rallied in the second quarter to pull to within six, but Nitzan answered with back to back field goals to extend YU's lead to 24-14, with 6:06 left to play in the half. Later in the stanza, sophomore forward Jennie Mellman forced a steal and converted a layup off a feed from Leventhal to increase Yeshiva's advantage to 32-20, with 1:24 to go. The Maccabees went into the intermission up by a score of 34-26.

Sophomore center Laura Sneed opened the scoring in the second half to pull the Lions to within six, but Yeshiva was able to break the game open right after, by going on a 10-2 run. Nitzan capped off the surge by forcing a steal and converting a layup off a fast break to extend the Maccabees' hold to 44-30, with 6:09 left in the period. The Macs' lead inflated to 60-38 after 30 minutes of play.

Yeshiva did not allow King's to generate a consistent run to get back into the game. Sophomore guard Nechama Braun converted a layup to equal Yeshiva's largest lead of the contest, at 76-47, with 1:11 remaining in regulation. The Blue and White went on to earn the non-conference victory, 78-49.

For the Maccabees, senior guard Adina Rosenberg scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds, while classmate Leah Shulman added seven points, four boards, and three steals. Junior forward Lindsay Brandwein produced four points with six boards, three steals, and a pair of assists, while Mellman had eight points, three rebounds, and two blocks. Braun had five points, four rebounds, and two blocks of her own.  Sophomore guard Rebecca Malech added two points and senior forward Tehilla Teigman brought down seven caroms.

For King's, Sneed had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Sophomore forward Serena Tuomi finished the evening with 10 points.

Yeshiva will battle the United States Merchant Marine Academy, at Liebertz Gymnasium, on Sunday afternoon. The Skyline contest will begin at 12:00 p.m.