HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – A spirited second half comeback fell just short for the Centenary University women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon against the College of Saint Elizabeth.

The Cyclones who trailed by 10 points at the half, rallied to tie the game with 5:10 to play in the fourth but ultimately fell, 60-52.

The College of Saint Elizabeth scored the final six points of the first quarter and took a 10-4 lead after 10 minutes of play.

The two teams went back-and-forth in the second quarter as a jumper from Deja Ingram at 3:06 gave the Eagles a 23-11 advantage, their largest of the game. Junior Katie Alvarez sunk a pair of free throws at 2:44 to pull the Cyclones to within ten, 23-13. The Eagles carried that 10-point advantage into the halftime intermission.

The Cyclones came out firing to start the third quarter and used a 13-9 run to pull to within six, 32-26 with 5:14 left on the clock. Alvarez contributed seven of the 13 points in the scoring spurt.

The Eagles pushed their lead back to nine as the two teams continued to battle. A lay-up from sophomore Danika Brandt pulled the home team to within two, 35-33 with 2:21 showing on the clock. Ingram connected on a lay-up at 1:16 and the Eagles took a 38-35 lead through three.

Centenary scored 12 of the first 21 points in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 47-47 with 5:10 to play. Freshman Jessica McKenzie scored eight points during that scoring stretch including the game-tying lay-up.

The College of Saint Elizabeth responded with a 9-0 run of its own and took a 56-47 lead with 2:37 to play. The two teams traded points down the stretch as the Eagles held on for the 60-52 win.

The Cyclones shot 47.7 percent from the field for the game including an impressive 68 percent in the second half. Centenary shot a blistering 83.3 percent (10-for-12) from the floor in the third quarter. The College of Saint Elizabeth shot 35.3 percent from the floor for the game.

For the third straight game the Cyclones won the rebounding battle as they held a 40-32 advantage.

Alvarez came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points and added five rebounds. Freshman Victoria Jacobs added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Cyclones while McKenzie finished with 10 points.

Rakiyah Sellers led Saint Elizabeth with 19 points and four steals.

Centenary is back in action on Monday, Nov. 26 when the Cyclones travel to King's for a 7 p.m. game.