SCRANTON, Pa. - The 9th ranked Northampton women's basketball team dropped their first game of the season on Thursday evening, falling to Division II Lackawanna College, 71-61, at the LC Student Union Complex.

The second quarter was the downfall for the Spartans, who were outscored 23-14, after entering the period with a 15-14 advantage. The Falcons were 8 of 17 from the field and 6 for 6 from the charity stripe in the quarter, turning the  1-point deficit into an 8-point halftime lead. 

The Falcons upped their lead to 57-46 after three quarters and then were able to hold off the Spartans in the 4th, to earn their first victory of the season. 

Xenia Gillis (Yeadon, PA/Penn Wood) led Northampton with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks, while Zoe Cruz (Stroudsburg, PA/Pocono Mt. East) added 14 points and Kania Day (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg South) finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

The Spartans struggled from distance, knocking down just 1 of 12 attempts from behind the arc, but stayed in the game due to an outstanding effort at the line, where they finished 22 of 31.

The loss drops Northampton to 5-1 overall, while Lackawanna improves to 1-3.

The Spartans are back on the road Saturday as they travel to Toms River, NJ to face the Ocean County College Vikings at 12pm.