NEWBURGH, NY – Limited to just 28.6-percent shooting from the field, the Mount Saint Mary College women's basketball team lost their season opener to New York University, 61-45. The Violets received a strong effort from pre-season first-team All-American Jessica McEntee (Flushing, N.Y.) who finished with 14 points and 22 rebounds.

A defensive battle through the first twelve minutes, junior Meredith Paggi (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 11 and then banked home a layup to give the Blue Knights a 13-11 lead with under seven minutes to play in the first half. The teams traded a pair of buckets and then another lay-up from Paggi gave the Blue Knights a 17-16 advantage with under five minutes to play.

From there, the Violets closed the half on a 10-1 run. Sophomore Emily Foshag (Los Angeles, Calif.) converted a four point play at the 4:31 mark and then hit the next bucket to push the Violets' lead to five. NYU scored the final four points of the half and carried a 26-18 advantage into the locker room.

Out of the gates in the second half, NYU increased the distance to 17 with an 11-2 run. The Blue Knights would never get the lead back under ten, but seemed ready to get back into the game at the four minute mark. Junior Catie Biordi (Beacon, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer and then a pair of free throws to trim the lead to eleven, but the Violets answered with a bucket to stop the momentum.

Paggi led all scorers with 17 points. McEntee was the only other player in double-figures, finishing with 14.

The schedule doesn't get any easier for Mount Saint Mary as they prepare to host the College of New Jersey on Tuesday, November 18. TCNJ was ranked 18th nationally in the d3hoops.com pre-season poll. Game time on Tuesday is 7:00 p.m.