BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Pratt Institute women's basketball team fought for three tight quarters in its Atlantic East Conference debut before Gwynedd Mercy University pulled away in the fourth for a 65-47 victory on Wednesday at the Activity Resource Center.
The Cannoneers (1-8, 0-1 AEC) received a stellar all-around performance from sophomore Anabela Jakelic (Zagreb, Croatia), who recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Junior Emily Carlson (Utica, N.Y.) anchored the defense with a game-high three blocks to go with 13 rebounds and six points.
After a slow start, Pratt stormed back in the second quarter, outscoring the Griffins 19-13. Fifth-year guard Kylie Grant (Dallas, Texas) sank a free throw with six seconds on the clock to send the teams into halftime deadlocked at 30-30.
The third quarter remained a tight, back-and-forth battle. A jumper by Jakelic just before the buzzer brought Pratt to within a single point, 46-45, heading into the final frame. However, the Cannoneers' offense went cold in the fourth quarter as Gwynedd Mercy used a 19-2 run to seal the win.
Grant contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists. First-year Lola Mactavish (Sydney, Australia) added nine points, while first-year Dahlia Dimitrov (Montreal, Canada) chipped in three points and three steals.Â
Gwynedd Mercy (4-9, 1-0 AEC) was led by a game-high 26 points from Alyssa Cresto. Erin Eisenhart recorded a double-double of her own with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Pratt will travel to Scranton, Pa. on Saturday, Jan. 10 to face Marywood University in another conference test starting at 1 p.m.
