JAMAICA, N.Y. – York College freshman Claudia Rhoden had the best game of her young career, scoring 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds, but her effort would be in vain as the Cardinals women's basketball team fell to the College of Mt. St. Vincent, 69-63 on Saturday afternoon.
 
York looked strong in the early parts of the game and looked poised for an upset, thanks to an 8-0 run to close out the first half that put them on top 27-20.  The Cardinals forced a couple turnovers in the stretch leading to four points from Angelika Ruggiano and buckets from Rhoden and Samantha Bond.
 
Mt. St. Vincent quickly closed the deficit after halftime, going on an 8-2 run out of the gate to creep within one point (29-28). York would maintain a tight lead throught the remainder of the third quarter, never allowing the Dolphins to pull ahead.
 
However in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins pulled ahead (54-52) on a Kelly Nola lay-up with 8:55 to play. From there the teams battled until a 9-2 Dolphin run put MSV up 64-57 with just under three minutes to play.  York struggled offensively in the final minutes and could never get back in the game from there.
 
Also contributing for York in the loss was Ruggiano, who had 15 points, Bond with 12 points and Shanelle Baldwin with 10 points and five boards. Jigcara Grant pulled down 16 more boards and ranks as one of the top rebounders in the country this season. York drops to 2-4.
 
Mt. St. Vincent had a balanced scoring attack featuring five players in double figures. Brittany Carrol came off the bench to a score a team-high 14 points. Christina Barone had 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.  The Dolphins improve to 4-3 with the win.
 
The Cardinals return to action on Monday with a road game at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy beginning at 7 p.m.