Box Score NEWBURGH, N.Y. – In a game characterized by cold shooting, Mount freshman Kristina Nieves (Fair Lawn, N.J.) led the Knights to a 59-49 win over non-conference opponent Hunter College. With the win, the Knights advance to 15-2 on the season, while the Hawks fall to 6-11 overall.

Both teams battled in the early minutes of the half and with 15:15 on the clock, Nieves nailed a jumper to put the Knights up by three, 11-8. The Mount followed up Nieves' jumper with an 8-0 run that gave them their largest lead of the night, 17-8.

Trailing by nine, two consecutive three pointers brought the game to within three and senior Johanna Keilwitz (Wolmirstedt, Germany) hit another to make it three in a row and knot things up at 17-17. Keilwitz added another from downtown with 3:27 remaining in the half to give the Hawks a three point lead. The Knights closed out the final three minutes of the half with a 7-0 run to regain a 24-20 lead at the conclusion of the first.

With just under eight minutes elapsed in the second half, a three-pointer from Mount junior Charneice McCullough (Wyandanch, N.Y.) pushed the Knights ahead by nine, 34-25, but just three minutes later the Hawks would close to within three. One from behind the three-point arc by Hunter sophomore Kristen Markoe (Staten Island, N.Y.) brought the score to 36-33 at the 9:14 mark.

The Knights dug in and with just 6:00 left on the clock they once again extended their lead to nine, following two converted free throws by sophomore Rachel Perrone (Poughquag, N.Y.). As was the story all night, strong shooting from downtown allowed the Hawks to threaten for the lead. With 3:44 left on the clock Hunter freshman Shatira Hamlet (Rosedale, N.Y.) knocked down her first three-pointer of the night to bring the Hawks to within three, 47-43.

With the game on the line, the Knights delivered from the free throw line and went 12 for 14 in the final 3:21 of play. Nieves was sent to the line three times and added five of her team-high 16 points in the waning minutes of play.

In addition to leading the team in scoring, Nieves also grabbed eight rebounds. Mount senior Jen Mocanu (Belford, N.J.) was the only other Knight to reach double-digit scoring with 10 points, while teammate Amanda Horvers (Kingston, N.Y.) chipped in with eight points.

Markoe recorded a double-double to lead the Hawks with 16 points and 14 boards. Hamlet, sophomore Alease Vaughan (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and graduate student Megan McKenna (Rockaway, N.Y.) all added seven points.

The Knights look forward to a key Skyline Conference match-up with Farmingdale State College. The Mount will travel to Farmingdale on Saturday, January 28  for a 1:00 game.