(Valhalla, NY) - Up 16 points early in the third quarter, the Westchester Community College Women's Basketball team appeared to be cruising towards their biggest win of the 2019-2020 season as they seemed to have all of the answers for a Suffolk Community College team that is always in the hunt for NJCAA Region XV supremacy. It was the big lead, and even bigger near-collapse, that made freshman Jailine Ruiz's (Bronx, NY/Bryant HS) clutch three-point basket with 39 seconds remaining perhaps the moment of the season for the Vikings as Westchester held on for a 45-39 win over Suffolk CC to earn their second consecutive win on Sunday afternoon at Viking Gymnasium.

With the win, the Vikings are now 5-6 for the 2019-2020 campaign, having won two straight games.

Suffolk Community College (3-3) scored the game's first two points on their first possession of the game, and then spent the next 39:35 playing from behind as the Vikings turned in their best defensive effort of the season despite a significant size advantage for the visiting Sharks. A Ruiz lay-up with 4:38 to play in the opening stanza completed a 10-2 Vikings run, giving the hosts a 10-4 lead. Westchester led 15-10 after the first quarter.

Suffolk quickly scored to open the second quarter to make it 15-12, but from there, the Vikings exploded, effectively putting the game away with a 14-2 run, featuring five points by freshman Marisol Rodriguez (New York, NY/HS for Economics & Finance) to make it 29-14 with 2:08 to play in the first half. Westchester led 29-16 at halftime.
 
However, after a Ruiz basket with 5:44 to play made it 34-18 with 5:44 to play in the third quarter, Suffolk went on a run of their own, ending the third stanza on a 10-2 run to make it 36-28 entering the final 10 minutes. The score was 40-37 in favor of Westchester with 3:17 to play before a Ruiz  jump shot gave the Vikings some breathing room, extending the lead to five. However, Suffolk made it a three-point game once again with 1:45 to play. With 1:07 remaining, Westchester took a time-out, and off of a set play, Rodriguez found Ruiz wide open, and the freshman buried a long three-pointer with 39 seconds to play to seal the win.

Ruiz finished the game with nine points, all of which proved to be enormous, and added eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals during an outstanding all-around effort. Freshman Tina Fabrizi (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck HS) led the Vikings with 12 points, and added seven rebounds, while freshman Donjeta Prelvukaj (Bronx, NY/St. Catharine) added eight points and four rebounds.

The Vikings also received a tremendous effort from Rodriguez, who had nine points, 11 rebounds, and two assists, during her finest all-around game of the season.

Overall, Westchester's efforts on the boards proved to be a major factor behind the win. After being out-rebounded during most of their games this season, Westchester and Suffolk each had 48 rebounds, including a 15-11 Westchester edge on the offensive glass, giving a huge boost for the Vikings. WCC also won the turnover battle, forcing 28 turnovers by Suffolk, while only committing 21.

Westchester returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 10 when the Vikings travel to Ulster Community College for a 5:00 p.m. Region XV contest.