BROOKLYN – Senior Anna Bryce's three-point attempt at the buzzer fell off the side of the rim and Pratt Institute women's basketball suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Yeshiva University, 51-49, in non-conference action at the Activities Resource Center Thursday evening.
Bryce led all players with 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting. Sophomore AimeeLyn Miller was the only other Cannoneer in double figures with 10 points, including a third-quarter three-point field goal that briefly gave Pratt its only lead in the second half. Reigning Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week Amissa Epperson was held to six points but contributed 12 rebounds and a game-high three blocks.
Yeshiva received double-double performances from Michal Alge (21 points and a game-high 18 rebounds) and Simee Rosner (20 points and 13 rebounds) in evening its record at 1-1. With the loss, Pratt fell to 1-1.
After Alge sank a free throw giving Yeshiva a two-point lead with 28 second to play, after a timeout to prepare for the press, the Cannoneers inbounded the ball and worked the clock down to eight seconds before head coach Sade Jackson called her last timeout to set up the game's final play. After receiving the ball from the inbounder, Bryce dribbled to the top of key and with a hand in her face from a Yeshiva defender, fired an arching three-point shot, which hit the left side of the rim before falling to the gym floor as the final buzzer sounded.
"We were right there with a chance to win the game," Jackson said. "That was the designed play, we just didn't knock down the shot. Next time we will."
The Cannoneers pulled to within one possession of Yeshiva after trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half.
"There are a lot of things we can take from this game," Jackson added. "It was rough trying to get any momentum [tonight]. Missing some of the shots we know we can make was disappointing, but, I think we played as bad as we could have played, yet we still had a chance to win the game with two seconds left. We have to keep our heads up."
Yeshiva built its lead on the strength of a 14-2 third-quarter run after Miller's three-point basket game the Cannoneers a 33-32 lead midway through the quarter. Eighteen seconds after Miller's basket gave Pratt the lead, Rosner sank an elbow jumper to reclaim the lead for the visitors. After an Emily Guerra miss, Rosner converted back-to-back layups, pushing the Maccabees' lead to five.
Bryce would convert a jumper of her own to trim the Pratt deficit, but Alge scored the quarter's final six points to give Yeshiva an 11-point lead heading into the final frame.
Bryce would give the Cannoneers a boost at the start of the quarter sinking a running jumper and a pair of free throws to cut into the Yeshiva lead, but the Cannoneers were unable to over their second-half deficit.
Bryce trimmed the Yeshiva lead to one after a pair of free throws but the Cannoneers then allowed a pair of offensive rebounds on the ensuing possession, leading to Alge's free throws that ultimately sealed the win for Yeshiva.
After taking a 13-11 lead after the first quarter, the Cannoneers were unable to maintain their advantage as Yeshiva claimed a 30-24 lead at halftime. Pratt's undoing was free-throw shooting as the Cannoneers only shot 6-of-14 from the line in the first half and 8-of-16 in the second half. The Cannoneers were also outrebounded by Yeshiva, 61-49, including 28-16 on the offensive end.
Up Next: The Cannoneers hit the road for a non-conference matchup with New Jersey City University at Charlie Brown Court on November 26. Pratt returns to the friendly confines of the ARC on December 1 for a men's and women's doubleheader with Pine Manor College.
