Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College women's basketball team returned home to Ted Grant Court and hosted the Chicago State Cougars in an NEC matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Dolphins dropped the matinee clash, 61-55, and now possess a 5-14 record overall and are 3-3 in conference play this season.

Junior forward Ashley Buragas (Hopewell Junction, N.Y. / John Jay / Mineral Area College) set a new career-high for the second straight game and led all players with 23 points in the loss. She shot 9-15 from the floor and was 5-6 from the free-throw line while adding five rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes of play.

Senior guard Sierra Linnin (Valley Cottage, N.Y. / Albertus Magnus) also finished in the double-digits for the 'Phins, contributing 16 points on 5-13 shooting with a trio of three-pointers and a 3-4 mark from the charity stripe. She also tied junior forward Sydney Postell (Churchville, N.Y. / Churchville-Chili) for the team lead in rebounds with eight, as both players set new career-highs in the category.

Junior guard Jessica Wangolo (Ottawa, O.N. / Capital Courts Academy / Buffalo) added a team-best six rebounds with one steal against the Cougars.

Le Moyne shot 31.1% from the field and went 13-16 (81.3%) from the line. They added 30 points in the paint with 13 second chance points, as well

Four different Chicago State players recorded double-digit points in the victory as Brianna Hill (12), Keona McGee (11), Kyara Champagne (11), and Tania Allen (nine) led the charge offensively. Allen and McGee also finished with double-digit rebounds, totaling 11 and 10, respectively. 

Both offenses came out swinging, with Buragas tallying six of the Dolphins' first seven points in the opening four minutes of the first quarter. The teams then went on a nearly four-minute long dry spell before freshman guard Peyton Dincher (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore) reached the line and connected on a free-throw to put Le Moyne up by two points, 10-8.

Layups by senior guard Michelina Lombardi (Wyantskill, N.Y. / Averill Park) and freshman forward Rachel Lynch (Cork, Ireland / Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)) extended the 'Phins lead as they went to the second frame up 14-10.

After going up 18-10, Le Moyne allowed nine of the next 10 points and saw their lead slip to one by the midway point of the second quarter. The Cougars took the lead, 21-20, on a layup by Champagne with 2:31 remaining in the half and took a five point lead into the break.

Chicago State extended their lead to eight points in the opening minutes of the third quarter and a fastbreak layup out of the hands of McGee put the team ahead, 35-26, at the 5:42 mark. The Cougars led by as much as 13 in the final minutes of the frame before five late points from Linnin slowed their progress and the visitors went into the fourth quarter with a 48-38 advantage.

The Dolphins cut their deficit to six, 50-44, in the first two minutes of the final frame on buckets from Buragas and freshman guard Kayden Clark before their offense went cold for nearly three minutes with 6:25 left to play.

They rebounded, however, and connected on nine consecutive points from Buragas, Linnin, and Wangolo to come within one point, 56-55, with 21 seconds left. 

After McGee only connected on one of two free throws late, the Dolphins were handed an opportunity to score out of their final timeout with 17 seconds to play. A missed layup sealed the deal, though, as Chicago State went to the line twice in the final seconds and completed their 61-55 road victory over Le Moyne.