NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The Hunter College women's basketball team fought tooth and nail with Mount Saint Mary but the Knights made the shots that counted down the stretch to prevail in a 59-49 effort at the Kaplan Center on Monday evening.

With the win, the Knights advance to 15-2 on the season, while the Hawks fall to 6-11 overall.

Kristen Markoe recorded a double-double to lead the Hawks with 16 points and 14 boards. Shatira Hamlet, Alease Vaughan and Megan McKenna each tallied seven points.

The Knights and Hawks battled in the early stages of the half then at the 15:15 mark, a Knight jumper put the home team in front, 11-8. The Mount then exploded for an 8-0 run that gave them their largest lead of the night, 17-8. Hunter trailed by nine, but two consecutive three pointers from Nicole Lenard brought the game to within three before Johanna Keilwitz knocked down another to make it three straight and tie the game at 17-17. Keilwitz added another from downtown with 3:27 remaining in the half to give the Hawks a three point lead but it was shortlived as the Knights closed out the half with a 7-0 run to regain a 24-20 lead at the end of the period.

Mount Saint Mary opened the second half on a 10-5 run to grab a nine point lead (34-25) with 12:35 left to play. Hunter responded quickly though, sparking an 8-2 run of its own capped by a Markoe three-pointer which cut the Knights' lead to just three (36-33) with 9:14 left to play. Hunter never managed to get over the hump as the Knights extended their lead to nine (45-36) with six minutes left to play. The Hawks solid shooting from behind the arc kept them in the game and with 3:44 remaining, Hamlet connected from downtown to bring the Hawks back to within four (47-43).

Hunter needed to foul in order to retain possession and have a chance at winning. Unfortunately for Hunter, the Knights hit 12 of the 14 free throws they attemped in the last minutes of the game to take the game, 59-49.

Hunter will look to remain atop the CUNYAC North Division standings when it hosts York College on Wednesday, January 25th at 5pm.