(Valhalla, NY) - After trailing 22-19 at halftime to Queensborough Community College during an early season version of a must-win game, the Westchester Community College Women's Basketball team took to the floor to begin the second half with a plan in mind to steal a victory from the jaws of defeat. And during a stellar stretch of play to open the third quarter, the Vikings did just that, literally. Freshman Donjeta Prelvukaj (Bronx, NY/St. Catharine) recorded a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double that included 19 second half points, and freshman Tina Fabrizi (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck HS) added 14 points and seven steals as Westchester rode a 36-8 scoring advantage during the third quarter to a 70-46 win on Thursday night at Viking Gymnasium. With the win, WCC is now 4-6 for the 2019-2020 game.

The key stat was the turnover battle as Westchester committed a season-low 16 turnovers, while forcing Queensborough (0-11) into 51 of their own. Westchester's incredible defensive effort was on full display during the third quarter. After the Tigers scored on their opening possession of the third stanza to make it a 24-19 game, the Vikings went on an incredible 22-2 run, that included Queensborough turnovers on nine consecutive possessions. At one point during the run, freshman Bria Lockley (Yonkers, NY/High School for Teaching and Professions) recorded three steals during a 36-second span that led directly to six Viking points. Lockley finished with 11 points, six assists, and five steals.

Westchester led by as many as 28 points during the fourth quarter before the visiting Tigers went on a run towards the end of the game to make things closer. However, for a long stretch, it did not seem like the Vikings would coast to victory at all. After opening the game on a 12-2 run, Westchester struggled to find their rhythm, as Queensborough closed the first quarter by scoring seven of the next nine points to make it a 14-9 game at the first break. During the second stanza, Westchester shot 2 for 15 from the floor, and scored only two points over the final 8:35 of the quarter as Queensborough went on a 13-2 run to close the first half, and take the lead at halftime, setting up perhaps the biggest quarter of the season for the Vikings. Westchester scored more points during the first 4:34 of the third quarter (21 points) than they scored during the entire first half, combined.
 
Also for the Vikings, freshman Jailine Ruiz (Bronx, NY/William Cullen Bryant HS) recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and five steals. As a team, Westchester registered 31 total steals.

After shooting only 21% from the floor over the first 20 minutes of play, Westchester finished the game shooting 34%, including an outstanding 14 for 26 (54%) effort during the third quarter.

Queensborough had a better night shooting (38%) and owned a 61-31 rebounding edge, but the turnover disparity was too much for the Tigers to overcome.

Westchester CC returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 10 when the Vikings host Suffolk Community College at 1:00 p.m.