New York, NY – Sophomore guard Shay Branch-el-Vielot (Cambria Heights, NY/Canarsie) scored a team high 18 points, but the Hawks would just come up short, falling 58-56 in their conference opener against cross-town rival CCNY in women's basketball action Tuesday evening at the Nat Holman Gymnasium in New York, NY.

The Beavers started the game off with an 8-0 run that spanned the first five minutes of the half. However, the Hawks behind the play of Branch-el-Vielot rallied back and took a 25-16 lead with 4:18 left in the first. CCNY would stage a late comeback to close the gap to just one basket, sending the game into the half with the Hawks up 29-27.

Hunter opened up the second with a 14-4 run that extended their lead to ten points, 43-33with 12:28 left in the game. However, after trailing the entire half, the Beavers managed to chip away at Hunter's lead and were able to forge a comeback that resulted in a tie game with just 1:41 left to go. The Hawks would get several chances to reclaim the lead, but the Beavers would prevent them from making another field goal and took their third and final lead of the game on a made free-throw by freshman guard Anika Rivera (Bronx, NY/Msgr. Scanlan) who also scored a game high 25 points, and had 13 steals, seven rebounds and six assists.

Senior guard Mona McKenzie (Rockaway, NY/Midwood) contributed 13 points and four assists for the Hawks, while sophomore forward Andrea Buckham (Queens, NY/Flushing) had a game high 16 rebounds and 11 points.

The Hawks return to action on Friday, December 7 when they host John Jay College for a 5:30 p.m. CUNYAC match-up which will also be part of the 2007 Homecoming festivities.