NEW YORK --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) Following a sizzling fourth quarter, York College women's basketball triumphed Wednesday night over the Hunter College Hawks (8-9, 3-3 CUNYAC) by the final count of 63-55 to claim a CUNYAC road win inside Hunter Sportsplex. The Cardinals' road win at Hunter is their second in as many seasons.

How it Happened

• Hunter took an early 7-2 lead at the 6:41 mark. 
• The Hawks increased their advantage to nine (21-12) with 1:40 remaining in the first period after Alexa Charles sank a jumper.
• York closed with five-unanswered points to end the quarter trailing 21-17.
• Mac-Dege Dessources sank a pair of free throws with 4:06 remaining in the half to give the Cardinals a 25-23 lead as part of an extended 13-2 spurt.
• Charles capped off a 7-0 run for Hunter with a layup with 63 seconds left in the quarter.   
• Ellma Hodzic's jumper beat the buzzer to cut Hunter's advantage to three (30-27) at halftime.
• York opened the third stanza with four-straight points 1:51 in as free-throws by Aminata Sanga put the Cardinals in front, 31-30.
• Trailing, 39-37, Hodzic canned back-to-back triples to build a four-point cushion (43-39) with 1:25 showing on the third-period clock. 
• Hunter replied with four-straight points to tie the score at 43 following Charles' layup with 12 seconds remaining. 
• The Cardinals jumped out of the fourth-quarter gates on a 13-3 burst across the first 6:04 to open up a 10-point edge (56-46).
• Clutch free-throws by Hodzic, Alicia Gumbs and Kristina Sierra in the final 2:01 sealed the 63-55 victory.

"We have been focusing on our defensive energy and rotations this week. After giving up 21 pts in the 1st qtr the girls focused in on their effort and rotations."-said head coach Kimani Jackson

Inside the Box Score
Hodzic and Dessources both dropped 16 points to pace York. Along with her scoring output (2-of-6 3FG, 6-of-8 FT), Hodzic provided a team-high five steals. Dessources grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds and two blocks to add to her 16 points (5-of-9 FG, 6-of-7 FT) for double-double number 12 of the season. Gumbs netted 13 points (5-of-8 FG, 3-of-6 FT), recorded three steals, and dished out a game-high six dimes. Sierra chipped in with 10 points (3-of-7 3FG), six boards, and two steals. Gibson, Sagna, and Madison Plaza each totaled two steals.

Charles sparked Hunter with a game-leading 26 points (12-of-14 FG), 10 rebounds, and eight steals. Erin Cosio added 10 points and six rebounds. Kimberly Lau chipped in with nine points, six boards, four steals, and team-highs in assists (4) and blocks (2). 

The Cardinals shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from downtown, and 69 percent (20-of-29) from the charity stripe. Contrasting the shooting to Hunter, the Hawks hit on just 14.8 percent (4-of-27) of their triples and made only four free throws.  

Apart from shooting, both programs essentially canceled each other out in other statistics. York slightly edged the Hawks in rebounds (40-38), Hunter won the assist battle (17-11), and each team recorded 17 steals. While Hunter dominated the fast-break point category (14-0), York had more points off turnovers (23-19). On the inside, the Hawks had the advantage in points in the paint (28-26), while the Cardinals narrowly outplayed Hunter in second-chance scoring (9-8).

Up Next 
The Cardinals (8-6, 4-2 CUNYAC) return home Friday (Jan. 20) to host the league-leading Brooklyn College Bulldogs (9-7, 6-0 CUNYAC) at 5 p.m. in a CUNYAC showdown inside York College Gymnasium. 

For the latest news on the Cardinals, log on to www.yorkathletics.com – the official site of York College athletics. Also, become a follower of the Cardinals on Instagram (@yorkcardinals), Twitter (@yorkcardinals) and YouTube (@yorkathletics), and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (York Athletics).