Washington, D.C. - After a dramatic final quarter, the Adelphi University women's basketball team dropped its game against the University of The District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon, by a final score of 61-58.

As the fourth quarter began, Rolanda Robinson knocked down a three that extended the Brown and Gold's winning margin to four. Following a long back and forth exchange, the Firebirds took their first lead of the second half on a layup from Brenda McKinney with 2:36 to go. 

Ten unanswered points from UDC upped the Panther deficit to five with just 12 seconds to play. Robinson hit her second three in as many minutes to put the game back within one possession. With the subsequent home team's trip to the free throw line ending 1-2, Adelphi took a timeout with 4.7 seconds to play. 

The inbound was then stolen by the Firebirds' Nhaikiya Smith, as the clock expired to zero. 

A 14-5 run started off the game hot for the Panthers, capped off by a deep ball from Christina Sanchez with 4:20 to play in the opening quarter. The initial cushion later shrunk to just two by the frame's end, thanks to a pair of free throws from Isabella Asencio. 

Asencio made the second set of 10 minutes hers, doubling her eight point first quarter to head into the break with 16. The sophomore guard tallied two field goals in each quarter, the last of which gave the 'Cats a five point advantage. A three point shooting foul on a heave from half-court led the Firebirds to tie the contest before the teams headed to the locker rooms. 

Just like after the opening tip, the Brown and Gold would come out firing again in the second half, starting off on a 10-2 run. Sanchez would once more be the highlight of the stretch, scoring seven of the points along with a steal. Another make from beyond the arc stretched the Adelphi lead to nine with just under two minutes remaining in the third. Sanchez's 10 in the third would be the only of the afternoon where a Panther reached double digits. 

Head Coach Sade Jackson and the Panthers will break until after the new year, taking on University of New Haven on Thursday, Jan. 2. Tip-off from West Haven, Conn. is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.