OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. --- Wrapping up a two-game trip in New York the Bellarmine University women's basketball team fell 66-58 to the New York Institute of Technology Bears on Saturday afternoon in a nonconference matchup.

The loss drops Bellarmine to 6-4, 0-2 GLVC while the Bears improve to 5-4, 1-0 in the East Coast Conference.

In the opening moments of the game, the Knights had their way with the host Bears, getting easy baskets off precise passing while forcing NYIT into five turnovers in their first seven possessions on their way to an early 11-2 lead. But the Bears would turn up the defense on their own, clawing back in a first half that was marred by turnovers by both teams.

Not taking care of the ball, Bellarmine turned the ball over 17 times in the opening half with NYIT committing 11 of their own. The Bears' Cierra Baker, who is fourth in the country averaging 4.6 steals per game, was credited with five in the first half alone.

Three of Bellarmine's turnovers came on their last three possessions of the half, as NYIT took a 32-29 halftime lead.

The second half became highly contested as the teams battled back and forth until NYIT extended their lead to 11 with 4:20 remaining in the game. But Bellarmine had one last run in them, cutting the lead back down to five with 2:14 left. Running out of steam though, the Knights could not get any closer, falling 66-58 in the end.

Even though the Knights' gameplan was to not allow Baker to carry NYIT, she still filled the stat sheet up registering 12 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and seven steals on the day.  Bellarmine was led Allison Matheis and Kylie Brady who both scored 14 points, but the Knights as a team shot just 12-22 (54.5%) from the free throw line.

Bellarmine is now off for the rest of the calendar year, with their next game coming on Jan. 5 when they host GLVC opponent Rockhurst University in Knights Hall.

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