NEW YORK, N.Y. - Rookie guard Xiomara Soto (Danbury, Conn.) poured in a game-high 18 points to lift the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team to a blistering come-from-behind win, 69-59, at non-conference opponent John Jay College on Saturday afternoon at the Doghouse. Classmates Gianna Castellano (East Haven, Conn.) and Nia Rencher (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) chipped in with 17 and 14, respectively. Senior forward Alyssa Virtue (Groton, Conn.) added team-highs of 12 rebounds and four blocks.

Ashley Zeolla paced the Bloodhounds with a double-double on 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Michaela Lattimora added another with 13 points and a game-high 16 boards.

The contest was close in the first quarter before John Jay reeled off a second stanza flurry to open up a nine point advantage when Lattimore powered home a layup shortly before halftime. The Bloodhounds would lead 30-23 at the break.

The hosts built the advantage up to 18 points before the Wolves stormed back. Trailing 41-23 midway through the third, Castellano sparked the rally with a midrange jumper. Junior guard Malaysia Dingle (Brockton, Mass.) later trimmed it to 44-40 when she stole the ball and raced down the court for a breakaway layup. 

John Jay countered and stretched the cushion back to an 11 point lead early in the fourth when Briana Minick connected on a free throw. However, WestConn refused to give up and put together a late surge to erase the deficit and capture the lead when Soto nailed a trifteca to put the Wolves on top, 59-57, with just 2:24 remaining. They would hold the Bloodhounds without a field goal down the stretch, limiting them to just two points from the charity stripe. Soto rounded out the scoring with a free throw with just three seconds left.

With the comeback victory, the Wolves improved to 2-3 overall, while the Bloodhounds dropped to 2-3. WestConn returns to action when they travel to the University of St. Joseph on Tuesday at 6 p.m.