BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's basketball team dropped its season finale to Sarah Lawrence College, 68-59, at the Campbell Sports Center on Tuesday evening. Both teams earn a split in its home and home series, with Yeshiva winning at the Max Stern Athletic Center, this past Sunday afternoon.

The Gryphons (1-1) never trailed during Tuesday's contest and were up by as many as 14 during the second half. The Maccabees (1-6) rallied in the fourth quarter with seven unanswered points to pull to within three, with 2:29 to go, but it was not enough as Sarah Lawrence was able build its lead back up and then hang on for its first victory of the season.

Three players scored in double figures for Yeshiva. Sophomore guard Yuval Nitzan tallied 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and forced three steals. Junior forward Jennie Mellman had 13 points and five boards, while first-year guard Shai Rahamim netted 12 points, clutched seven caroms, forced four steals, and distributed a pair of assists.

In the opening quarter, Sarah Lawrence took the lead for good thanks to a jump shot by senior guard Kaylin Yamada to make it 9-7 with 6:33 to go. After Yeshiva fell behind, 13-7, Mellman ended Yeshiva's slump with a successful jump shot. On the next possession, senior guard Miriam Kazlow forced a steal and drove all the way to the basket for a layup, while being fouled at the same time. She added the shot from the charity stripe to complete the traditional three-point play and narrow the deficit to 13-12. However, Sarah Lawrence outscored Yeshiva, 8-2, the rest of the quarter to take a 21-14 advantage after 10 minutes of play.

The Maccabees could not generate a run to get back into the game during the second and third periods, but YU did not allow Sarah Lawrence to put the game out of reach either.

After falling behind by 13 in the fourth quarter, the Maccabees finally closed the gap by scoring eight unanswered points to pull to within five, at 52-47, with 6:31 to go in regulation time. Sarah Lawrence was able to build its lead back up to 10, but Yeshiva was not ready to go down without a fight. A field goal from inside the paint by senior forward Lindsay Brandwein pulled YU to within single digits. A few possessions later, Nitzan grabbed a defensive rebound and went all the way down the court to score on a fast break to shrink the Gryphons' lead to 57-51, with 2:53 remaining.

Rahamim was able to come up with a steal on the next possession and Yeshiva took advantage as Nitzan buried a shot from downtown to pull the Maccabees to within three, at 57-54, with 2:29 left. Brandwein earned the assist on Nitzan's bucket. However, Sarah Lawrence halted Yeshiva's late-game surge by scoring the next five points to go back up by eight, with 1:21 left. Rahamim took a feed from Nitzan and drained a shot from downtown to narrow YU's deficit to 62-57 with 53 ticks left on the clock, but it was not enough as Sarah Lawrence outscored YU 6-2 the rest of the way to win the game, 68-59.

In her last career collegiate game, Brandwein netted six points, distributed five assists, grabbed three rebounds, and forced just as many steals. Sophomore forward Noa Berkowitz and classmate Gabrielle Kupferman each scored four points, with the latter grabbing six rebounds and the former bringing down three boards. First-year guard Renee Benjamini hit two free throws, while sophomore forward Daniella Rothman had three rebounds. Rookie guard Liana Maza blocked a shot and clutched a rebound.

For Sarah Lawrence, first-year guard Lexie Wingerter led the way with a game-high 19 points, while sophomore guard Demitra Loukopoulos added 13 points with four assists and three steals. Junior guard Camryn Davis just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Senior forward Melanie Coleman had seven points and a game-best 14 rebounds.

The Yeshiva University women's basketball team will return to action in the 2021-22 season.