BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Rookie guard Mercedes Perez (San Antonio, Texas/William Howard Taft) produced 28 points and 12 rebounds on Tuesday night. However, the St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) women's basketball team fell 69-66 to Sarah Lawrence College. 

How it Happened

Colleen Coughlin powered the Gryphons' offense, scoring 11 of the their 15 quarter points, leading throughout the entire period. However, the Bears kept the pace; trailing 15-12.

A pair of Perez triples at the start of the second gave SJBK an 18-15 edge. It proved to be the first of five lead changes. Grace Kennedy (Maspeth, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) and Destiny Hurt (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka) each scored in the final minute-plus to see the Bears hold a 34-32 advantage. Perez shot three-for-five in the stanza and two-for-four from beyond the arc.

Sarah Lawrence leveled the game on a trio of occasions early in the third quarter but the Bears were able to preserve the lead – leading by as many as eight, 50-42, with 2:30 remaining. They held a 52-50 edge entering the closing period.

Coughlin banked a triple to begin the fourth quarter, swinging the lead back in the visitors' favor. While the advantage exchanged hands, the Grypons held on to the lead for good with 4:33 left in regulation. The Bears came within two points of tying the contest, 68-66, but fell 69-68 at the end of the 40 minutes.

For the Bears

• Perez's 28 points eclipsed her previous season-best (23 vs. Farmingdale State) and came within a rebound of matching her single-game high.

• Hurt dropped 18 points and was a pair of rebounds shy of a double-double. She also had four steals.

• Shanna Bliss (Astoria, N.Y./Bryant) pulled six boards.

• Domenika Sanchez (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Santo Domingo de Guzman) had nine points and four rebounds.

• Kristen Donovan (Maspeth, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) totaled three steals, four rebounds, and as many points.

Up Next

The Bears are back on the road this Saturday, January 13 as they face the United States Merchant Marine at 12 pm.