BOX SCORE Boston, Mass.- Hunter College's women's basketball team displayed tremendous effort but narrowly fell 69-66 to Lebanon Valley in a hard-fought matchup at the Jean Yawkey Center in the second day of the EC Tip-off Tournament hosted by Emmanuel College.

The Hawks (1-2) got off to a strong start, outscoring Lebanon Valley (2-1) 22-14 in the first quarter, fueled by efficient shooting and solid defense. Hunter shot  69.23% overall, and  57.14% from beyond the arc.

Alexa Charles shone brightly for Hunter, putting up a game-high 26 points on 12-for-19 shooting and securing nine rebounds. Her aggressive play in the paint set the tone early and kept the Hawks competitive throughout. Eliah Yode provided a strong supporting performance, contributing 11 points, six rebounds, and a pair of assists.  Katie Burke was also a key presence, adding nine points and pulling down five rebounds, including some crucial boards that helped keep Hunter in contention. She also dished out three assists, a team-high tied with Charles. 

Despite holding a lead at halftime, Hunter faced a surge from Lebanon Valley in the second half, despite outscoring their opponent 17-16 in the third. The fourth quarter was particularly challenging, as the Hawks were outscored 23-15. The Purple and Gold maintained the lead until the final five minutes of play. While the Hawks remained competitive, keeping the game within one possession they were unable to overcome the Dutchmen in the final sequence and ultimately faced a narrow defeat.

Regardless of the late surge, the Hawks outshot their opponent from the field, shooting .500 compared to Lebanon Valley's 43.8%, while second chance points proved to be the difference maker, as the Dutchman managed 13 after grabbing nine offensive boards as Hunter was unable to convert its five.

The Purple and Gold continues its season this weekend as they host Vermont State Lydon, UMass Boston and St. Elizabeth. Hunter's first game of the weekend is set for Friday (11/22) at 7:00 p.m. in the Sportsplex.