BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Senior Kinako Miyake had a night to remember pouring in a career-high 26 points but the Pratt Institute women's basketball team could not recover from an early deficit, as they suffered a tough 75-56 loss to SUNY College at Old Westbury on Friday night at the Activity Resource Center.
Miyake blew past her previous career-high of 18 points by raining down eight three-pointers and connecting at a 50 percent clip from the field (9-of-18) and three-point line (8-of-16). Her eight trifectas doubled her previous career-best and were the most by a Cannoneer in a single game dating back to the 2014-15 season. The senior also handed out a career-high six assists and grabbed four rebounds.
By her side, sophomore Kylie Grant recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Grant also notched six assists and six steals, just one steal shy of matching her season-highs in both categories. Senior Victoria Liu also aided the team with nine points and tied her season-best five assists.
Old Westbury (2-19) was led by Melinda Harris, who had a 22-12-10 triple-double. Ja'nya Flash (19 pts, 19 reb) and Kasiobi Okenwa (10 pts, 11 reb) also had double-doubles for the night. Harris also sank five clutch free throws, which played key factors in stopping Pratt's 20-point fourth quarter.
The game started slow for the Cannoneers held to four points in the first quarter. But the Cannoneers fired back in the second, shrinking a 17-point deficit down to nine before trailing 35-24 at halftime.
The visitors widened their lead in the third, before Pratt surged again in the fourth quarter using fast-paced transition basketball. Down 21 with just under eight minutes to play, Grant crashed the boards, and forced a turnover off of a steal, to help jumpstart a Miyake 9-0 run down the stretch closing the gap to just 12, with 5:42 to play. But the Panthers pulled away again to end any hopes of a comeback bid.
Powered by Miyake's sharp shooting, Pratt recorded season-bests in scoring (56), field goal percentage (36.7), three-point field goal percentage (35.5), and three-pointers made (11) as a team.
Pratt (1-20) heads upstate on Sunday, February 12 for a doubleheader against Cazenovia College. The women tip-off at 1 p.m. followed by the men at 3 p.m.
