BUFFALO – The D'Youville University women's basketball team played their home opener Saturday afternoon, falling to Gannon University by a score of 70-59.
 
Junior Anna Jankovic (Averill Park, N.Y.) led the charge for the Saints on both sides of the ball with 18 points, seven rebounds, and a season-high four steals. Senior Carla Torrubia Cano (Melilla, Spain) also grabbed seven rebounds for DYU along with 11 points. Junior Stella Mollica (Shillington, Pa.) turned in a solid performance as well with 11 points and six assists.
 
Gannon started the game on a 10-2 run. A layup and free throw from Cano followed by a layup from Jankovic brought the Saints within three midway through the quarter. DYU then rattled off six straight points to go ahead 13-12 with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter. The Golden Knights closed the quarter on a 4-0 run to enter the second quarter up 16-13.
 
A three-pointer from Jankovic made it 18-16 early in the second quarter in favor of Gannon. After a 5-0 run from Gannon, Mollica sank a three-pointer to cut the Golden Knights' lead to 26-21. The two teams traded baskets for the final two and a half minutes, with Mollica sinking a turn around jumper at the buzzer to make it 32-26 Gannon going into halftime.
 
Gannon opened up the third quarter with four straight points to gain a ten-point advantage. A mid-range jumper from Mollica followed by a three-pointer from junior Sofie Fuglsang (Oberanven, Luxembourg) halted the Golden Knights' momentum and made it 40-33 with six minutes to go. Gannon proceeded to go on a 8-1 run to go up by 14 with three minutes remaining in the quarter. Cano and Jankovic each converted two layups to close out the quarter on an 8-2 run and draw the Saints within eight heading into the final quarter.
 
A three-pointer from Jankovic and a 15-footer from junior Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Waterville, N.Y.) cut it to a five-point deficit for the Saints with 3:35 left to play. A layup from Cano and a mid-range jumper from senior Brianne Moxley (Penfield, N.Y.) helped keep DYU within five with 1:37 left to play. But the Golden Knights closed out the game on a 6-0 run to leave College Center with a road victory.
 
Up next for the Saints is their ECC opener, as they travel to Roberts Wesleyan University next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.