JAMAICA, N.Y.— In a game that came down to the final play, the York College women's basketball team could not get the clutch basket they needed and fell to John Jay College, 74-71, in CUNYAC action on Friday night.
 
Tamika Taylor led York (4-11, 2-6 CUNYAC) with 21 points, six boards and six assists, and Angelika Ruggiano added 11 points and six assists.  Nia Rene chipped in 12 points and Stayce Kay Muirhead hauled in 13 rebounds.
 
John Jay (3-10, 3-5 CUNYAC) got 21 points from both Josephine Diaz and Brianna Cunningham, while Victoria Royal scored 10 points and pulled down a game-high 21 boards, while also dishing out six assists. 
 
After John Jay took a ten-point first half lead, York rallied in the second half to eventually take the lead (51-50) with 13:55 to play.  With John Jay leading by seven, a three-pointer by Bond, a jumper by Taylor and five straight points from Rene gave the Cardinals their first lead since midway through the first half.
 
From there the game was tight the rest of the way.  The Bloodhounds were clinging to a 72-71 lead when the Cardinals forced a turnover with 37 seconds left.  On the ensuing York possesion, however, the Cardinals turned the ball over as well, giving the ball back to John Jay with just 15 seconds remaining. 
 
York was forced to foul to stop the clock, and John Jay's Josephine Diaz made both shots to giver her team a 74-71 lead with eight seconds remaining.  The Cardinals brought the ball up court and Shanelle Baldwin got a good look from three-point range, but the shot came up short, giving John Jay the victory.
 
York will return to action on Wednesday with a home game against Medgar Evers College on January 21 at 6 p.m.