A female college student attacked in a Garden City mall parking lot did all she could to escape.

The 20-year-old victim, who requested anonymity, was attacked in the middle of the day about 500 feet from the Roosevelt Field Mall entrance. She says she was in her car with windows rolled down when a man reached in and demanded money and her cell phone.

Then, she fought back.

"This is a very tough young woman," Nassau Police Det. Lt. Raymond Cote said. "She bit down very hard on his forearm - her assailant's forearm - breaking the skin. And she was able to get away very quickly."

Although she didn't realize it immediately, the victim had been injured by a box cutter. She contacted mall security and was brought to the hospital for stitches.

Police are using the victim's description of her assailant, as well as his blood sample from the car, in their investigation. Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call Nassau Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.