Buffalo, NY - The D'Youville women's basketball team lost to the Pitt.-Bradford Panthers on Monday evening by the final score of 78-55.

D'Youville struggled on offense early in the first quarter. The Spartans did not score until exactly half way through the first as Hannah Simone (Rochester, NY/Bishop Kearney) hit a three. However, Bradford also had their struggles on offense as to that point they had only scored six points themselves. The offensive issues continued for both teams as the quarter went on as the score was 8-4 with 1:59 to go in the first and the Panthers would close out the quarter with a 12-6 lead.

It wasn't before long in the second quarter that the Spartans got right back in the game. Magan Magee (Ellenburg Center, NY/Northern Adirondack) hit a three, followed by Darian Evans (Brant, NY/Lake Shore) and Sara Field (Durhamville, NY/VVS) baskets to make it a 14-13. After falling behind by six, the Spartans pulled back to within one off a Kailey Kellner (Coupeville, WA/Coupeville) three, making the score 21-20. D'Youville would then fall behind by nine as the half neared, but the women were trim the Bradford lead to three as they went into the half trailing 31-28.

The scoring woes of the Spartans reappeared in the third quarter as they were outscored 14-2 to trail 45-30 with 4:59 to go in the quarter. Bradford continued to increase their lead throughout the third as they scored 22 points to D'Youville's nine in the quarter, taking a 53-37 lead into the fourth and final quarter.

Pitt.-Bradford was in control of the game in the fourth. A three from Jordan Smith (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) and a layup from Sydney Alton (Hannibal, NY/Hannibal) closed the gap to 12 with 7:21 to go in the game. However the Panthers were able to maintain a double-digit lead over the Spartans through the end of regulation, defeating D'Youville 78-55.

Field was the only Spartan to score in double-figures with 11 points. Simone added nine points with eight from Evans, seven from Smith, six from Monica June (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech), four from CeDrice Howard (University Place, WA/Curtis) and Magee, and three from Alton and Kellner.

Simone grabbed a team high six rebounds with four others pulling down four. June led the team with five assists and two steals. Callie Rapant (Alexandra Bay, NY/Lafargeville), Briana Dotterweich (Depew, NY/Depew), Marina Campbell (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Catholic), Kelsey Carpenter (Hilton, NY/Hilton), and Morgan Lehman (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) all saw valuable minutes.

The next game for the women comes this Saturday, January 13 at 4:00pm as they host the La Roche Redhawks.