Despite a strong effort in the second half, the Stony Brook women’s basketball team couldn’t catch their Fordham opponents at the Phoenix Classic on Saturday afternoon, 81-73. Stony Brook is now 1-1 on the season.

Senior Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) led the team with 14 points. Senior Misha Horsey (Wycote, Pa.) led the team in assists with seven. Sophomore Juanita Cochran (Saginaw, Mich.) led the team in rebounds with eight.

Stony Brook was trailing Fordham at the half by 13 points. They responded with gusto by scoring the first eight points of the second half. After Fordham answered the call with a three-point-bucket of their own, sophomore Talisha Bridges (Kalamazoo, Mich.) responded with a two-pointer of her own. The score stood 49-43.

With 12:30 left, the Seawolves were breathing down Fordham’s neck, trailing by only one point. Senior Jodie Plikus (Waterford, Conn.) had just made back-to-back three-pointers.

However, Fordham would hear nothing of that.

They responded with eight straight points to bring the score to 60-51 in their favor.

Cochran and sophomore Taylore Brunner (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) combined for six points to bring the Seawolves within four, 69-65. Fordham struck back again to bring their lead to 10.

Then Cochran and sophomore Destiny Jacobs (Glen Burnie, Md.) responded with four points of their own.

However, Fordham would solidify their lead with four free throws in the final 30 seconds of the game.

On Friday, the Seawolves defeated the Troy Trojans, 77-60, in Stony Brook’s season opener.

Junior Destiny Jacobs led the Seawolves with a career-high 18 points.

Cochran had 11 points and a game-high 8 rebounds, while Horsey contributed 12 points.

The Seawolves forced 25 turnovers in the victory.

The women will play again at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18, against Hofstra in the Seawolves’ home opener.