Freshman guard NyAsia Anderson led the Firebirds with 19 points.
Freshman guard NyAsia Anderson led the Firebirds with 19 points.

Firebirds Fall at No. 15 Queens

FLUSHING, NY – The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team was defeated by No. 15 nationally-ranked Queens College (NY), 88-58 in East Coast Conference play Saturday afternoon at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.

The Firebirds have now lost three straight as they fell to 2-9 overall and 1-2 in league play, while Queens, the preseason ECC favorite, shook off an 88-78 loss at Molloy Wednesday night to improve to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in league play.

UDC shot just 30-percent from the field as the Firebirds were held under 60 points for the 8th time this season. Freshman NyAsia Anderson recorded her 9th double-figure scoring game this season as she led UDC with 19 points while adding three rebounds and two steals. Senior center Jaslynn Rollins pitched in with five points and a team-high four rebounds.

Queens was led by Rowland sisters MacKenzie and Madison, who scored 26 and 25, respectively, and each hauled in 11 rebounds. MacKenzie shot 12-of-20 from the field for her game-high scoring output and also contributed four assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Madison shot 10-of-17 from the field while also registering game-highs of eight assists and seven steals.

Beth Bonin (13 points, three assists) scored six points in the opening 1:30 of play to help the Knights start the game on a 10-0 charge, and Queens never looked back. The hosts would lead by as many as 12 in the first quarter before settling for a 10-point advantage, 24-14 at the end of the period.

Queens extended its lead to 22 in the 2nd quarter courtesy of a 15-3 surge over a span of 5:30. Following a three-pointer by Anderson in the final seconds before halftime, UDC still trailed 47-26 at intermission.

The Firebirds never got any closer than within 16 points of their hosts in the 2nd half as Queens' lead ballooned at 35, 88-53, with a little under two minutes left in regulation. UDC freshman guard Bailee White (7 pts, 3 rb) accounted for the game's final five points as she made a three-pointer and later a pair of free-throws with just under a minute left to make the final score, 88-58.

Next up, UDC hosts cross town rival Bowie State on Tuesday, December 13th at 5 p.m.