BETHLEHEM, PA. - The Northampton women's basketball team fell just short, 73-70, in a hard fought late season Region 19 battle with visiting Brookdale Community College on Saturday afternoon at the Arthur L. Scott Center.

The Spartans, who Received Votes in the most recent NJCAA National Poll, wasted no time locking up with the Jersey Blues, as both teams went back and forth in an offensive first quarter, with the visitors grabbing the early lead, 26-19. The Spartans bounced back in the second quarter. outscoring Brookdale, 20-14, and cutting the deficit to, 40-39, at the half.

Northampton was slow to get started in the second half and found themselves trailing, 61-53, going into the fourth quarter. Trailing, 63-53 with 8 minutes remaining, the Spartans were able to go on a 10-0 run and knot the score at 63-63, with just under 5 minutes left to play. The Jersey Blues were able to jump out ahead again, and took a 71-65 lead over the Spartans with 2 minutes left to play. The Spartans put forth another surge in the final minutes, but it was not enough, as the Jersey Blues were able to close out the victory from the foul line.

"Tough one today," stated Spartans Head Coach Carly Gallagher, " Give Brookdale credit they shot the ball well and we didn't do what we needed to do. We will make the necessary adjustments and be ready for another battle on Monday."

Sophomore Layla Sweatte (Allentown, PA/William Allen) led all scorers with 27 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and shooting 7-11 (63%) from three-point land. Sweatte became the All-Time Leading Scorer in Northampton women's basketball history when she drilled a 3-point basket with 3:54 on the clock in the first quarter to give the Spartans an early, 15-13, lead.

Freshman Neoshe Perez (Bath, PA/Executive Charter) scored 17 points with 12 rebounds and Nia Brown (Bethlehem, PA/Executive Charter) scored 9 points and grabbed 9 boards. Abymarie Colon (Easton, PA/Wilson) score 9 points and was 4-4 from the free throw line and Joey-Madison Shaul (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) had 8 rebounds in the loss.

Northampton celebrated their lone sophomore Layla Sweatte (Allentown, PA/William Allen) in a pregame Sophomore Day ceremony before tip off. Sweatte, who entered the contest with 1,117 career points, needed only 9 points to break the All-Time Scoring mark of 1,125 held by Dom Moser (2016-17, 2017-18). 

Northampton slips to 17-7 overall and 11-5 in Region 19.

Brookdale Community College improves to 12-11 overall and 8-8 in the Region.

Both teams will battle again on Monday evening when the Spartans travel to Lincroft, New Jersey for a Region 19 rematch with the Brookdale Jersey Blues at 6pm at the Collins Arena.