ORANGEBURG, N.Y. – The Saint Anselm College women's basketball team was downed on Friday by Dominican (N.Y.) College, 77-43.

Saint Anselm, who came into the game as the No. 18 program in NCAA Division II (D2SIDA Media Poll), falls to 2-2 overall on the year. Dominican, the seventh-ranked team in the East Region this week and an NCAA tournament team in 2020-21, moves to 4-0 to begin the year.

The Hawks trailed by a 29-16 margin at the break, shooting just 18.2% from the floor. Saint Anselm completed play by outscoring the Chargers by a 19-18 margin in the fourth quarter, but through the first three stanzas, the Hawks could only generate eight points in each quarter as Dominican pulled away for the win.

Sophomore Gabby Turco (Wildwood, N.J.) had team-leading totals of 14 points and five rebounds in the defeat with the next student-athlete, classmate Gia Bramanti (Andover, Mass.), registering six points. Freshman Melanie Hoyt (Stamford, N.Y.) scored a career-high six points, leading the Hawks with three offensive boards.

Ahead by a 3-2 score following an early triple from junior Macy Spinks (Luton, England), the Hawks conceded an 18-5 scoring run to the hosts to build a 20-8 advantage. The hosts would open up a 13-point lead at halftime, thanks to 42.3% shooting from the floor and out-rebounding Saint Anselm, 24-19.

Dominican continued to punish Saint Anselm in the second half, beginning play on a 23-4 scoring run that grew the lead to 30 points, 52-20. Leading by a game-high 36 points, Saint Anselm rallied back in the fourth quarter with 13 of the next 24 points in the game, but it was too late to complete a comeback.

The Chargers had a well-balanced score sheet as Alexis Suarez and Taylor Tomlinson posted 13 points apiece. 12 student-athletes for Dominican scored at least two points in the convincing victory.

Saint Anselm will look to shake off the tough defeat on Saturday, Nov. 20, taking on Caldwell in the Dominican (N.Y.) gymnasium at 2 p.m.