LAKEWOOD, NJ- In a much closer game than the final score indicates, the Georgian Court University  basketball squad suffered a crushing 71-60 defeat to visiting Nyack College Saturday afternoon in the GCU Wellness Center.

The Lions (0-22, 0-15 CACC) built a 21-10 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first and held the Warriors (8-12, 4-8 CACC) scoreless for almost seven minutes (6:34), but Nyack battled back, led by nine points from senior Lekesha Harris (St. Albans, NY),  and cut the deficit to 23-22 at the half.

The two squads played a back and forth second stanza with the Lions taking a five-point advantage (47-42) at 8:40 remaining. A lay-up from senior Vicky Sweet (Harlem, NY) at 3:27 remaining gave Nyack a 57-55 advantage, a lead the Warriors would not relinquish.

GCU' Jasmine Lewis led her team with six assists and a career-high 20 points, going 8-for-14 from the floor, in 35 minutes. Lauren Staats drilled three three-pointers and collected 14 points, and a team-high six boards, in 33 minutes. Chinyere Ozuzu contributed a 5-for-7 effort from the floor for 10 points off the Georgian Court bench (11 minutes).

Nyack's Harris also dropped in 20 points, which included five three-pointers and a 7-for-10 effort from the floor, in 27 minutes. Sophomore Khamari Tellis (Chicago, IL) was perfect from the free-throw line (6-for-6) and shot 5-for-8 from the field for 16 points off the Warriors' bench (23 minutes). Sweet finished with 11 points in 33 minutes play.

Georgian Court heads on the road this Wednesday when they travel to #21 Holy Family University for a 7PM contest.