Box Score Cranford, NJ – On Thursday night, the Lackawanna College Women's Basketball team traveled to Union County College for an early season Top 20 match-up.  The Lady Falcons came into the game ranked #7, while Union County was ranked #18.  Not only was this a Top 20 match-up, but it was also a crucial Region XIX contest.  Both programs were the only 2 remaining undefeated teams in the Region.  On paper, this was shaping up to be a challenging road test for Lackawanna. 

As the game started, Lackawanna College would be without one of its leading scorers, Meliesha Troche, due to injury.  As the game began, Union County applied pressure though their full court press.  The pressure would prove to be effective, as the Lady Owls jumped out to a 6-0 lead.   For most of the 1^st quarter, Lackawanna struggled from the field and could not get anything to drop.  That proved to be detrimental as the 1^st quarter would end, with the Lady Falcons trailing 21-7.

The 2^nd quarter began with the Lady Falcons going on an 8-2 run, to trim the lead to 23-15.  However, the Lady Owls would slow the Lackawanna run down and increase their lead back to 12 points.  The Lady Falcons continued to struggle from the field and Union County capitalized on their opportunities to take a 32-18 lead, with less than 2 minutes left in the quarter.  A Jazmin Wright free throw cut the lead to 32-19 and that would be the score heading into the half.  The first half was uncharacteristic of Lackawanna and they would go into the locker room looking to regroup.     

Briaunna McCullough got things started in the 3^rd quarter with a quick bucket, trimming the Union County lead to 32-21, which was followed by a 3-pointer from Keyanah Price, to pull within 8.  The Lady Owls were forced to call a timeout to try to slow down Lackawanna's momentum.  After the timeout, Price answered again with a bucket down low, to cut the lead to 32-26.  One of the factors in the Lady Falcons success in the 3^rd quarter was their ability to get defensive rebounds.  Also, their zone defense seemed to slow the Lady Owls down.  A 3-pointer by Ciaira Loyd pulled Lackawanna within 1 point, 34-33.  A steal and layup by Briaunna McCollough, gave the Lady Falcons their first lead of the game, 37-36, and Jazmin Wright's basket pushed the lead to 3, 39-36.  Ciaira Loyd's layup would add to the lead, giving Lackawanna a 41-36 advantage and as the quarter came to an end, the Lady Falcons found themselves leading 45-38.

The 4^th quarter saw both teams trading baskets.  Ciaira Loyd pushed the Lady Falcons lead to 49-43 with a fast break layup, but Union County would hit a jumper to cut the lead to 49-45.  With under 7 minutes left, two free throws by the Lady Owls cut the Lackawanna lead to 1 point.  Union County would continue to capitalize on their opportunities and eventually take a 54-50 lead with 5:32 left in the game.  The Lady Owls pushed their lead to 60-54 and then to 61-54, after converting on 1 of 2 free throws.  Unfortunately, the Lady Falcons could not mount a comeback, like they did in the 3^rd quarter, and would suffer their 2^nd loss of the season, falling to Union County College 73-60. 

Lackawanna will have a quick turnaround, as they will travel to Wilmington, NC to compete in the Sea Devil Christmas Classic on Monday and Tuesday.  On Monday, the Lady Falcons will face East Georgia State College at 4:00pm and on Tuesday they will take on South Georgia Technical College at 1:00pm.  Both games will be played at Cape Fear Community College.