BRONX, N.Y. – Neumann University's Women's Basketball team struck down host Lehman College in the semifinals of the CUNY Coaches vs. Cancer tournament on Friday afternoon by a final score of 83-49.
 
The Knights suffered no ill-effects from the Christmas holiday as they scored 13 of the first 15 points to take permanent control of the game. After a Lehman lay-up, Neumann went on a 10-0 run over the next two minutes. The Lightning went on a 5-1 run in an attempt to fight back but the Knights scored the last five points of the first for a 20-point lead.
 
Both teams traded baskets through the first five minutes of the second, but Neumann scored nine points in a row, extending the lead to 45-17 with 2:23 left in the half. Again, Lehman tried to finish the quarter with momentum as they put up five straight points but again the Knights closed with their own 5-0 run, leading by 28 at the break.
 
4:08 into the third, the lead extended to 37 with the Knights coming out of the locker room with a 13-4 run. The Neumann advantage ballooned to 39 by the end of the third quarter. The lead got to as high as 42 points before the final buzzer saw the Knights off with a victory.
 
Emily DuPont led the Knights with 15 points, seven rebounds, and Neumann's only block. Lauren Klieber finished with another double-double, grabbing 14 points and 10 boards. She also had a team-high four assists. Both Aubrie Breisblatt and Jacqueline Wardrop finished with double-digit points with 10 each. Taylor Hehnly, Abby Bash, and Jenna Aponik all came off the bench and put up career highs, finishing with nine, seven, and six points, respectively.
 
Neumann (8-4), winners of three straight, will challenge Trinity College in the tournament championship, tomorrow at 2:00 PM. The Bantams defeated University of St. Joseph in the other semifinal by a final score of 93-73.