ST MARY'S CITY, MD – The York College women's basketball team began their season on the road far from home Friday night in Maryland against #14 Farleigh Dickinson University – Florham. The Cardinals played tough against one of the top teams in the nation but were defeated by a score of 49-41.
 
York looked to their 3-point shot to be the difference maker throughout the game, but came up short converting on only five of 21 attempts.  Turnovers impacted each squad negatively in this defensive stand off.  FDU-Florham turned the ball over 19 times while York allowed 18. 
 
Despite the miscues, York seniors stood out in the season opener.  Angelika Ruggiano put up 15 points, four assists and one steal.  Samantha Bond also performed well, scoring 14 points and adding two assists and two steals. The two seniors accounted for 29 of York's 41 points.   Senior Jigcara Grant had a nose for the ball all night, pulling down a game-high 19 rebounds. However, it wasn't all upper classman putting in the effort for York as freshman stand out Claudia Rhoden saw 21 minutes of action and scored five points along with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal.  Rhoden will look to compliment her more experienced teammates as the season gets underway.  Shalette Brown led FDU with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals.
 
This game easily could have gone either way with York outscoring FDU in the final quarter.  Although York never led in this game, the Cardinals cut the deficit to just five points with under six minutes to play, following a Ruggiano jumper.  However, FDU-Florham responded with two straight buckets to put the game away. Ultimately, FDU came away with the win leaving York 0-1 to start the season. 

The Cardinals will look to regroup in their second matchup of the St Mary's Tournament against Oglethorpe University at St Mary's College of Maryland tomorrow, Saturday November 14^th at 1 p.m.