OAKDALE, N.Y.-  The Dowling College women’s basketball team dropped the East Coast Conference opener 80-71 to LIU Post this afternoon at Dowling Gymnasium.  The Golden Lions fall to 0-6 on the season, 0-1 in ECC play.  The Pioneers improve to 5-2 overall, 2-0 ECC.
 
Four Golden Lions finished in double figures with redshirt senior Nicole Caggiano with a team high 21 points for 7 for 19 from the field.  Junior Krstina Surlan finished with 16 points and senior Christine Verrelle pitched in with 13 points, five assists and four steals.  Junior Jessica Kalbfleisch notched her first double double of the season with 15 points and 12 boards. 
 
LIU’s Nyasia Davis recorded a double double of her own with a game high 23 points paired with 12 rebounds.  Chelsea Williams knocked down 17 points with Jasmine Bailey coming off the bench and adding 11 points.
 
Back to back buckets by LIU’s Bailey put the Pioneers ahead 24-18 with just under eight minutes, but four unanswered points from Dowling’s Surlan closed the gap to two, 24-22, with six minutes left in the half.  Following an exchange of baskets, Caggiano dropped in two free throws to knot the game at 26.  The Pioneers would build their lead back up with seven unanswered points, but the Golden Lions chipped away and a layup from Kamille Ejerta in the closing seconds sent DC into the break trailing by just three, 37-34.
 
The Pioneers used an 11-0 run in the later part of the second half to take their largest lead of the afternoon, 71-56, with just under three minutes left on the clock.  Back to back three pointers from Caggiano put the Golden Lions to within eight, 71-63, but the Pioneers held tight down the stretch for the 80-71 win.
 
As a team the Golden Lions knocked down 41.1% from the field with the Pioneers finishing at 45.3%.
 
The Golden Lions return to action Wednesday, December 10^th as they travel to Mercy College.  Game time is set for 5:30 PM.