KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's basketball team got off to a strong start but fell in its season opener to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, by a score of 66-44, at Liebertz Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.

Yeshiva (0-1) led 16-12 after the opening quarter but were outscored by Merchant Marine (1-0) in each of the remaining three periods of the contest.

Leading the way for the Maccabees was sophomore guard Yuval Nitzan, who led all players with 25 points, brought down a team-best eight rebounds, and had a game-high four steals.

In the opening quarter, first-year guard Shai Rahamim drained a 3-point field goal to cap off five unanswered points scored by her team and give YU a 7-4 lead, 2:26 into the game. Over two minutes later, sophomore forward Daniella Rothman grabbed an offensive rebound and connected on the putback to make it 9-6 in favor of the Maccabees.

Merchant Marine went on a 6-2 run to take a 12-11 advantage. Nitzan converted from downtown to catapult Yeshiva back in the lead, 14-12, with 1:14 left in the first period. In the closing seconds of the quarter, Rahamim converted a layup to extend Yeshiva's advantage to 16-12. That would be the score after 10 minutes of play.

In the middle stages of the second stanza, Nitzan forced a steal and executed a layup off the fast break to extend the Macs' benefit to 21-18. The Mariners countered with four unanswered points to reclaim the lead. On the next possession, Rahamim found Nitzan, who connected on a jump shot in the paint to propel Yeshiva back in front, 23-22, with 4:10 left to play in the half. USMMA scored the next five points to retake the advantage, 27-23.

The Maccabees answered the Mariners' run as senior forward Lindsay Brandwein found Nitzan, who successfully converted a layup, while being fouled. She added the free throw to complete the traditional three-point play and pull the Blue and White to within one (27-26) with 1:32 left in the half.

USMMA scored the last four points to take a 31-26 hold into the intermission. The Mariners' momentum continued into the second half by scoring the first seven points to increase their lead to 38-26. The 11-0 that began in the first half put the game out of reach for the Maccabees, as they were held to just 18 points in the final 20 minutes of the game. Merchant Marine went on to win its season opener, 66-44.

For the Mariners, senior guard Kiana Vega had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while dishing out four assists and forcing three steals. Sophomore forward Madison Demos and junior center Lauren Hunter each netted 11 points with the former grabbing 12 boards.

For the Maccabees, Brandwein clutched seven rebounds. Rothman and junior forward Jennie Mellman each brought down five caroms of their own.

Yeshiva will battle Moravian College, at Johnston Hall, next Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.