Waterbury, Conn.  – The Post University women's basketball team hung tough with one of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference's best, but fell just short in a 76-66 loss to Jefferson University on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Toni Deren (Greenlawn, N.Y.) led the way for the Eagles off of the bench, scoring 21 points, including 5-for-9 from three-point land.

A tight first quarter saw the teams swap leads four times. Down 18-13 with 3:07 left in the period, the Eagles rattled off a 10-2 run to take a 23-20 lead, with Deren hitting back-to-back threes during the stretch. Freshman Hannah Benac (Boerne, Texas) and junior Gabriela Middleton (Coral Springs, Fla.) also scored during the run.

The Rams took a five point lead going into the break, as Post junior Lauren Chambers (Lebanon, Pa.) made a layup right before the buzzer to cut the Eagles deficit to 40-35.

Jefferson (14-2, 7-1 CACC) extended their lead to ten points at 45-35 with 8:42 remaining in the third, but the pesky Eagles (2-12, 1-7 CACC) fought back to take a 50-49 lead with 4:59 left after going on a 15-4 run. The Eagles used the long ball again to fuel their run as Deren hit two more three-pointers to go along with a three from Middleton. Both teams would go back and forth before the Rams took a small 60-56 lead going into the final frame.

After a three from Middleton to open the fourth to cut the deficit to one point, the Rams rattled off a 14-0 run to seal the game.

Post was again dominated on the offensive glass, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds, which led to ten second chance points. The Eagles also capitalized off of turnovers outscoring the Rams 22-16 in points off of turnovers. Post's bench also outscored Jefferson's, 25-10.

Middleton finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Katelyn Andres (North Bergen, N.J.) finished with ten points. Chambers had an all-around solid performance with eight points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Beverly Kum led all Rams in scoring with 29 points on 10-for-14 shooting. She also went 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. Rachel Day added 14.

Up next for the Eagles is a CACC road game at Bloomfield on January 16 at 5:30 p.m.