JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College women's basketball used a 15-point second-half scoring advantage Monday evening to capture a convincing 61-47 CUNYAC home win against the Baruch College Bearcats (13-8, 7-5 CUNYAC) on Play 4 Kay Senior Day / School of Health Sciences and Professional Programs Appreciation Night inside York College Gymnasium.  Prior to the opening tip, seniors Kathlyn Baldonado (2016-20), Dayana Jacome (2016-20) and Diamond Jackson (2016-18, 19-20) were recognized for their dedication to York College Athletics with the annual Senior Day Ceremony.  During pregame, both teams joined forces to walk eight laps on the hardwood to create awareness for the one in eight women who are affected by breast cancer.  York also held a moment of silence in which "I Play 4" cards were held to recognize all of those who have been and continue to be impacted by cancer. The moment served as a reminder that we can and we will defeat this disease. 

York took control of the contest early as Cami Melson followed Mac-Dege Dessources' miss with a tip-in to break the scoring ice 24 seconds in.  Trailing 8-6, Dessources went off for 10-straight points to give York a 16-8 lead with 1:22 left in the opening period.  

Baruch answered in the second quarter with a 3-pointer from Valsenia Michie to tie the game at 18.  Moments later, Dessources scored back-to-back buckets followed by a Kristina Sierra triple to cap a 7-0 spurt, giving York a 25-18 lead with 4:43 remaining in the half.  Baruch answered with an 11-3 run to close out the final 4:14 that saw the Bearcats force six turnovers to take a 29-28 advantage into the break.  

During a third quarter that featured five lead changes, York erased a three-point deficit with six-straight points to go up by three (40-37) with 2:07 remaining.  Playing with the lead for the final 13:17, York went on a 13-3 scoring spree to open the fourth period to build a double-digit advantage (55-42) with 3:49 showing on the clock.  The Cardinals stretched its lead to a game-high 14 points on two separate occasions in the final 1:37 of play.

Dessources finished with game highs of 20 points (9-of-17 FG), 21 rebounds and two blocks to post her second-career 20-point, 20-rebound double-double (12th double-double of season, 24th career).  Sierra registered 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from deep while Ellma Hodzic poured in 11 points.  Destiny Drummond dished out six assists (one turnover) to run the Cardinal offense. Melson added seven points, eight rebounds, two steals and one block.  

Nia Dawson totaled 12 points and six steals to pace Baruch.  Daniela Zirpolo chipped in with 11 points and three steals.  

York hit on 43.1 percent from the field (22-of-51), 30.8 from 3-point territory (4-of-13) and 61.9 percent from the free-throw line (13-of-21) while Baruch shot 29.7 percent from the floor (19-of-64), 26.7 percent from long distance (4-of-15) and 62.5 percent from the charity stripe (5-of-8).  The Cardinals outrebounded Baruch by 25, scoring 18 second-chance points off 14 offensive boards. York also outplayed the Bearcats in assists (15-12), blocks (3-0) and points in the paint (32-16) as Baruch held the edge in steals (10-7) and bench scoring (22-8). Both teams drew even with 17 points off turnovers. 

The Cardinals (8-14, 5-7 CUNYAC) travel to Manhattan to open a two-game road trip Wednesday (Feb. 12) evening starting with a CUNYAC matchup against the City College of New York Beavers (2-20, 2-9 CUNYAC) at 5 p.m. inside Nat Holman Gymnasium,  

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