JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College women's basketball opened their home schedule Tuesday with a win for the second-straight season Tuesday evening as 11 Cardinals scored in a 78-51 triumph over the Bryn Athyn College Lions (1-4) inside York College Gymnasium. 
 

Prior to the start of the game, Mac-Dege Dessources was presented with hardware for being named the 2018-19 NCAA Division III Statistical Champion for Rebounds Per Game after finishing her freshman year grabbing 16.1 boards per contest.  

The Cardinals raced out to an early 6-0 lead 1:26 in as Dessources poured in four of her seven first-half points.  During a first half that saw four lead changes, Bryn Athyn went up by as many as three points before York responded with 10-unanswered points to close out the second period with a 29-22 advantage at intermission.  

York took a double-digit lead with 7:13 left in the third quarter as Ellma Hodzic drilled a 3-pointer to put the Cardinals up 36-24.  The Cardinals played with the lead for the final 24:13 that included a double-figure advantage for a stretch of 17:13 of second-half play.  The Cardinals created separation with a 6-0 spurt at the end of the third stanza to grow their lead to 17 (54-37). York outscored Bryn Athyn by 18 points during the final 5:19 that saw the Cardinals extend their advantage to a game-high 29 points in the closing minute. 

Hodzic led the way for York with 20 points (5-of-11 FG, 3-of-6 3FG, 7-of-8 FT), six steals (career-high) and six rebounds.  Keyla Cabrera went for 12 points (6-of-9 FG) and 11 rebounds off the bench to notch her fifth-career double-double while Daniesha Newsome and Kristina Sierra added 10 points.  Dessources tallied nine points, seven rebounds and one block as Cami Melson nabbed four steals.  

Jayda Campbell scored 16 points to pace Bryan Athyn and Clayshonia Cogmon followed with 13 points and 11 rebounds. 

In the end, York connected on 43.1 percent from the field (28-of-65), 31.8 percent from 3-point range (7-of-22) and 65.2 percent from the free-throw line (15-of-23), compared to Bryn Athyn, which landed 22.7 percent from the floor (15-of-66), 18.2 percent from long distance (4-of-22) and 58.6 percent from the charity stripe (17-of-29).  York won the battle of the boards, 49-46, and scored 15 second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds. The Cardinals also outplayed Bryn Athyn in steals (16-13), assists (16-6), bench scoring (26-16), points in the paint (40-20) and converted 32 Lion turnovers into 29 points.

York (1-3) returns to the court next Tuesday (Dec. 3) at 5 p.m. for their CUNYAC opener on the road against the Brooklyn College Bulldogs (3-2) inside West Quad Center Gymnasium. 

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