ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - The Bard College women's basketball team rallied from a 21-point deficit to tie Clarkson in the fourth quarter, but the visiting Golden Knights pulled out a 55-52 victory in a Liberty League game on Friday night.

Clarkson made a trio of three-pointers in the first quarter, locked Bard down on defense and led, 18-6, after 10 minutes.

The lead got as big as 21 in the second quarter (33-12), but Bard scored the final six points before halftime and trailed 33-18 at the break.

The game changed in the third quarter. A 10-1 run, culminating with a fast break layup from Christina Kiser, trimmed Bard's deficit to 34-28, and the gap between the teams stayed at six points heading into the fourth quarter. The Raptors outscored Clarkson, 18-9, in the third quarter.

Bard battled back and finally tied it with 2:05 left on a free throw by Jess Rylander. Hannah Earl (St. Albans, VT) responded with a lefty layup to give Clarkson the lead, 50-48, but Rylander scored at the other end to tie it again with 1:26 left.

Another tough shot inside by Earl made it 52-50, but Kiser's layup tied the game a third time with 37 seconds left.

Earl was fouled with 13 seconds left, and she made the first. The second foul shot missed, but Rachel Marion (Pelham, NH) grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, and Emma Buonanno (Wolcott, VT) was fouled with 10 seconds left. She made one to make it 54-52.

Bard turned it over on its next possession, fouling Marion with four seconds left. She made one to give Clarkson a three-point lead, and Bard's three-pointer at the buzzer missed.

Earl led Clarkson (5-5, 1-3 Liberty League) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Buonanno had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Mariah Benevides (Baldwin, NY) added 11 points and two steals.

Kiser finished with 21 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block to lead Bard (5-6, 0-4). Rylander added 12 points and three assists; Katie Esposito chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds.

Up next for Bard is a Liberty League home game against St. Lawrence on Saturday at 2. Follow it live right here.