Release courtesy of CNR Athletics

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The College of New Rochelle erased a 15 point second half deficit in its HVIAC matchup with Albany Pharmacy, but was unable to complete the comeback, dropping a 62-61 decision Sunday afternoon at the Wellness Center.

Alyssa Pechin led all scorers with 24 points, while Jah-Leah Ellis recorded a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, adding six steals, four assists and two blocks.  Ja'Nasha King chipped in with 15 points.
 
Taylor Sullivan paced Albany Pharmacy with 21 points, adding seven rebounds and four steals.
 
Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the early going, as the team's combined for just nine points over the first six minutes, with a traditional three point play from Ellis providing the Blue Angels with a 6-3 lead.  The Panthers answered with a 12-3 run to open up a 15-9 lead just past the halfway point of the half.  CNR scored seven straight points to take a 16-15 lead with 5:19 left before the break, but Albany outscored the Blue Angels, 12-5 the rest of the half to take a 27-21 lead into the locker room.
 
The Panthers opened the second stanza with a 14-5 run to open up a 15 point lead, 41-26, their largest of the game, with under 16 minutes left in the game.  At that point, CNR began to chip away at the lead, scoring 15 consecutive points, capped by a King triple, to knot the score at 41 with just under 11 minutes remaining.  After a Panther bucket, back to back three pointers from King and Pechin gave the Blue Angels a 47-43 lead with just over nine minutes remaining.  CNR maintained the lead for the next few minutes and led by five, 57-52, with four minutes left in the game.  A 6-0 Albany run gave the lead back to the Panthers with 2:23 left.  The teams then traded baskets for the next few possessions, until Sullivan's layup with 54 ticks left gave the Panthers a 62-61 lead.  Two missed free throws from the Panthers gave CNR an extra chance to take the lead after a missed shot, but the Blue Angels were not able to find the winning basket.
 
The Blue Angels return to action on Tuesday, December 9, traveling to Annandale-on-Hudson to take on Bard College. The non-conference game is scheduled to tip at 6:00 PM.