New York, N.Y.- In a thrilling edition of their annual homecoming game against cross-town rival, Baruch, the Hunter College women's basketball team took home its first conference win, defeating the Bearcats, 79-70 in overtime on Friday evening. With the win, the Hawks advance to 5-4 overall (1-0 CUNYAC) while Baruch falls to 4-4 (0-1 CUNYAC).

Erin Cosio led all scorers in the win with 22 points, including a career-best six threes. Elliah Yode followed with a double-double as she knocked down 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Rookie standout, Alexa Charles also recorded double digit points with 13 in addition to eight rebounds and five steals. The Hawks led Baruch in almost all categories, including 34 points from their bench and 26 points off of turnovers.

The conference opener saw seven lead changes with six ties over 45 minutes of action. Baruch started off hot quickly going up 5-0, but Cosio's success beyond the arc started early as well as she knocked down her first of the game to put the Hawks on the board. At 5:33 she would drain her second to give Hunter it's first lead of the game to spark an 11 point run by the Hawks, including seven points from Charles. The Purple and Gold held on to that lead, going up by as much as 13 at one point as a steal from Kennedy DeRuy set Makkedah Murray up for a jumper with three minutes left in the half. Baruch was able to cut the lead to six, as the two teams headed into the intermission with the Hawks up 34-28.

Early in the third quarter, Baruch regained the lead as they pushed the pace, with Hunter trailing by as much as 10 and held that for the majority of the second half. The Hawks continued fighting, eventually overcoming the visitors with a layup from Yode with two minutes left in regulation. The home team managed to keep Baruch off the board until a foul with 15 seconds left as Hunter led 63-32. Baruch's Mia Castillo missed the second shot to send the game into overtime.

Cosio knocked down another three in overtime and Yode also hit a jumper, but it was the 11 good free throws from the Hawks that would be the deciding factor as they garnered their first CUNYAC win of the season, 79-70.

Hunter continues its season on Monday Dec. 5 as they host USMMA at 6:00 pm in the Sportsplex.