UB Women's Hoops Falls To LeMoyne, 68-63, In 2014-15 Season Opener

Bridgeport, Conn. - The University of Bridgeport women's basketball let a late lead slip away as they fell to the LeMoyne Dolphins, 68-63, in their season opener as part of the 2014 Bridgeport Women's Basketball Classic on Saturday afternoon.

Bridgeport overcame a ten point deficit in the first half after trailing 20-10 at the 7:28 mark. From that point on the Purple Knights would go on a 23-5 run to close out the half and take a 33-25 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the break Bridgeport had to ward off the LeMoyne comeback as the Dolphins started to apply full court pressure. The second half saw five lead changes and five ties as they game went down to the wire. LeMoyne gained the lead back with 9:33 on the clock with the score 48-46. Bridgeport would come right back with a three pointer from Jennifer Kucukkaya (Sr., Sodertalje, Sweden) and a layup from Tiara Aziz (Sr., Easton, Pa.) to take a 51-48 lead with 7:59 to play. The two teams again would trade leads as the game crept towards the final buzzer. A pair of free throws from Aziz would give Bridgeport another three-point lead, 63-60, with 1:45 on the clock. However, the Purple Knights would fail to score within those final minutes as LeMoyne hit six straight free throws to give them a lead they would not relinquish at 66-63 with 21 seconds to go. A turnover on UB's final possession led to a LeMoyne layup to end the game with a 68-63 advantage for the Dolphins.

Aziz led all scorers on the afternoon with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Kucukkaya finished the game with 19 points while connecting on three-of-six three point field goals.

Shannon Holt (Jr., Holden, Mass.) led the way for the Purple Knights on the glass, pulling in nine rebounds while also rejecting six shots. Freshman Morgen Caution (Baltimore, Md.) scored nine points in her debut for the purple and white.

Alex Marple and Maggie Brown led the way for the Dolphins with 18 points and 16 points, respectively.

Bridgeport will take on the Southern Connecticut State Owls as part of the Bridgeport Women's Basketball Classic on Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 pm. UB will then go on the road to take on the Division I Sacred Heart Pioneers in an exhibition game for the Purple Knights on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm at SHU's Pitt Center.