Garden City, N.Y. - Following a strong second half from the visitors, the Adelphi University women's basketball team dropped its game against cross-state rival Pace University on Tuesday evening, by a final score of 53-32.

Defense defined the first half, with only 14 points combined in the first set of 10. Christina Sanchez's layup got things going for the 'Cats just under two minutes in, but it took over five more to get the second bucket of the day, courtesy of Isabella Asencio. Her second layup along with Rolanda Robinson's free throw tied the game at seven-all before the buzzer sounded. 

Pace began to find more of an offensive stride in the second quarter, doubling their earlier point total and then some. The Setters ended the half on an 8-2 run, highlighted by a deep shot from Morgan Ryan to take an eight point lead into the half. 

Robinson put on a defensive clinic in the first half, tallying four steals to increase her lead across the NE10. Her, Sanchez, and Lauren Beberman combined for 14 of the Panthers' 15 at the break. 

Another quick run, this time 8-0, started the next half of play for Pace. The Brown and Gold responded with six consecutive points of their own, but that was the closest they would get the rest of the night, as the Setters' quickly extended their lead to 12 by quarter's end. 

Offense continued to be hard to come by in the final frame, as the 'Cats missed their first nine shots, before Maura Carney broke the dry spell with her first three-point shot since the home opener against Felician (11/13). Me'Challe Cancer also netted her first basket of her collegiate career at the buzzer on a layup.

Head Coach Sade Jackson and Adelphi will now enter a bye week, as their next game is not until next Wednesday, January 22 when they have a date with Southern Connecticut State. Tip-off from New Haven, Conn. is set for 5:30 p.m.