BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Jan. 9, 2019) – Despite freshman Taysha Bender (Glen Burnie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) and junior Holly Sanders (Chicago, Ill./Simeon Career Academy) scoring in double figures, the Mercy College women's basketball team dropped an 89-56 decision to ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Wednesday night at Hubbell Gym.

The Mavericks (3-11, 0-5 ECC) have dropped eight games in a row, while the Purple Knights (8-7, 4-1 ECC) move over .500 on the year.

Bender had a team-high 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting and Sanders added ten points and six rebounds. Junior Destinee Hall (Spring Valley, N.Y./Keystone College) netted nine points and a team-high eight rebounds and sophomore Amber Brown (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) and freshman Alexis Lake (Lakeview, N.Y./Malverne) contributed seven points apiece.

Bridgeport was led by Samnell Vonleh who had a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The Purple Knights opened the contest on a 6-0 run and held an 8-1 lead with 7:23 left in the opening quarter. Back-to-back free throws from junior Abigail Collier (Watertown, Conn./Watertown) made it a three-point game, 8-5, but Bridgeport answered with a 13-5 run to increase the lead to double digits, 21-10, with 1:52 remaining in the frame. Mercy continued to battle and cut the deficit to eight, 22-14, at the end of the opening quarter.

The Mavericks began the second quarter by trimming the Bridgeport lead to six, 28-22, on a Brown three-pointer at the 5:40 mark. Bridgeport built the lead back to ten, but Mercy made it an eight-point game at halftime, 36-28, following a Brown free throw.

After the teams traded baskets to open the third quarter, Bridgeport ended the quarter on a 27-11 run to take a 65-41 lead after three quarters.

The Purple Knights continued to play well in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 24-15 to come away with the victory.

Mercy shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the floor, 20.0 percent (2-of-10) from downtown and 51.4 percent (18-of-35) from the foul line. Bridgeport shot 40.3 percent (31-of-77) from the field, 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from long distance and 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the charity stripe. Bridgeport held a 57-36 edge on the boards and held a 21-8 edge in points off turnovers.

Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, January 16th at Post at 5:30 p.m.