BUFFALO, N.Y. - In their first game action in nearly three weeks, the Sheridan Bruins women's basketball team (6-9, 4-5 OCAA) shook off some rust, but suffered a pair of losses (83-71 and 80-60) to Villa Maria. 

"Especially considering the layoff from game intensity, we performed well," head coach Willie Delas said. "We know some things we need to work on moving forward, and if we can correct them, I think we'll be a tough out in the playoffs." 

In the first game, the Bruins struggled offensively in the first half, connecting on 10 of 36 attempts from the floor (27.8 per cent) and trailed 40-28 at the break. 

After trailing by as many as 14 early in the second half, less than a minute into the fourth quarter they had trimmed the margin to five, trailing 60-55 with 9:21 remaining. 

That would be as close as the Double Blue would get though, as Villa Maria restored their double digit advantage to close out the contest.

Brianna Stewart scored a game-high 27 points - to go along with five assists - while Theresa Brown (18 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) and Sydney Charvis (10 points, six rebounds, five assists) were also in double figures. 

The second game featured much of the same, with Sheridan once again struggling out of the gates, scoring just nine first quarter points while putting up a first half field goal percentage of 23.8. 

Villa Maria led by 11 at the half and though the Bruins were able to trim that to seven early in the third quarter, they slowly saw the margin slip away from them. 

Stewart (18) and Brown (13) once again led the way for Sheridan.