The Bard College women's basketball team battled in a close contest at Lesley, falling 47-44 on Saturday afternoon at Minuteman Gym. 

Erin Tobes led the Raptors with a career-high 15 points, was perfect from the free-throw line and added six rebounds. Aislynn Dixon and Lexi Miller each had eight points and four rebounds. Dixon added a steal, while Miller had a block. Shirley Dong had a career-high five steals, while adding seven assists, eight rebounds and four points.

Both teams went back and forth at the start of the first quarter, with Lesley taking an 11-4 lead. However, Bard went on an 8-5 run to reduce the deficit to four heading into the second quarter. An 8-2 run in the second quarter gave Bard their first lead. The Raptors held the Lynx to six points in the second. 

After halftime, Bard went on a 6-0 run to take a nine-point lead halfway through the third quarter. Back-to-back buckets from Lesley reduced the deficit to five heading into the fourth quarter. Lesley kept their offensive momentum from the third quarter and took the lead at 3:23 left with a layup from Ahifali Dehuelbes. Lesley hit 3-of-4 free throws to give them a four-point lead, but Tobes made both of her free throws to get Bard within two with a minute left in the game. A foul was called on Bard with eight seconds left, and Jaira Moore went 1-of-2 to give the Lynx a three-point lead. The Raptors could not execute the play in the end to tie the game. 

Bard has a quick turnaround as they head to Johnson & Wales tomorrow at 11 a.m.