BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Pratt Institute women's basketball team battled through a defensive struggle on Saturday afternoon, taking a tie game into halftime before falling 50-38 to Berkeley College (N.Y.) at the Activity Resource Center.
Pratt (1-4) was led by a dominant interior performance from sophomore forward Anabela Jakelic (Zagreb, Croatia), who posted a massive double-double with a game-high 15 points and a 22 rebounds. Jakelic played the full 40 minutes, anchoring the paint for the Cannoneers.
The game opened as a defensive grind, with Pratt holding the Knights to just 19 percent shooting in the first quarter to take a 10-7 lead. Fifth-year guard Kylie Grant (Dallas, Texas) scored early to set the tone, and the Cannoneers maintained their defensive intensity through the second period. Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm, entering the halftime break deadlocked at 21-21.
The third quarter remained tight, with neither side leading by more than a possession for most of the frame. Berkeley (1-4) managed to edge ahead slightly, taking a 30-27 advantage into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, the visitors found their shooting touch, outscoring the Cannoneers 20-11. A 3-pointer by Wy-Asia Montgomery with 3:45 remaining pushed the Berkeley lead to 43-33, creating a deficit Pratt could not overcome despite late free throws from Miga Higa (Torrance, Calif.) and Emily Carlson (Utica, N.Y.).
Grant finished the afternoon with eight points, 13 rebounds, and four steals. Higa added six points, while Carlson contributed five points and seven boards. As a team, Pratt pulled down 55 rebounds, just shy of Berkeley's 57.
Arianna Wilder led the Knights with 11 points, while Nyeira Spady filled the stat sheet with seven points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, and five steals.
Pratt returns to action after the Thanksgiving break on Monday, Dec. 1, for a road contest against Baruch College. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
