OAKDALE, N.Y. – The Felician College women's basketball team began play in the two-day 2012 Dowling College Holiday Classic with a 69-54 non-conference loss to Long Island University-Post on Saturday afternoon at Dowling Gymnasium.

Sophomore Eliana Scanlon (New York, N.Y.) led Felician (0-4) with 12 points. Teammate Trina Plummer (West Babylon, N.Y.) turned in 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Golden Falcons never led, but recovered from an early eight-point deficit to trail just 31-28 at halftime. In the second period, Felician cut its deficit to two points on two occasions, the last time on a Plummer jumper with 17:36 to play, before LIU Post embarked on a 22-4 run over the next eight minutes. The Pioneers took their largest edge, 68-45, at the 3:17 mark. Felician scored the last seven points of the game for the final margin.

Senior center Nicolette Marciniak (Brooklyn, N.Y.) shot 9 for 13 from the field and posted 21 points and eight rebounds to lead LIU Post (2-0).

The defenses were dominant on the afternoon as both teams struggled with their shot (Pioneers led, 38-33 percent) and combined for 54 turnovers.

Junior Keisha Jean-Louis (Somerville, Mass.) contributed eight points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench for the Golden Falcons, who conclude play in the event on Sunday afternoon by facing the host Golden Lions at 2 p.m.