It took nearly a month, but the College of Staten Island women’s basketball team struck the win column, pulling through a 64-60 win over visiting New Jersey City University in non-conference action at the Sports & Recreation Center earlier this evening.  The win lifted the Dolphins to an overall mark of 1-6, while the loss sent the Gothic Knights to 2-8 overall to start the 2010-11 campaign.
The lead changed hands a pair of times in the opening minutes before a made free-throw by Jaclyn Tocco and an Allie Shanahan three-pointer put the Dolphins up by a modest, 9-5, margin, a lead they would never relinquish for the rest of the evening.  The Gothic Knights made just 1-of-9 from the field with five turnovers over five minutes, as CSI got off to a 13-7 lead at 12:05.  Later, after NJCU’s Maria Suarez cut the Dolphins lead to 16-11 at 9:31, CSI opened up a 13-4 run over the next 4:27 to grab their biggest lead of the game, 29-15, with 5:03 to go in the opening frame.  The run was powered by seven straight Shanahan points, helping CSI shoot a crisp 42.4% for the half.
NJCU did answer with a 13-6 run to close the half, the last three coming at the charity stripe by Carolina Garcia.  Heading into the lockers, CSI had a 35-28 edge.
Although CSI never trailed, the second half featured the Gothic Knights chipping away at the Dolphins lead, setting up for a spirited finish.  With the Dolphins shooting just 2-of-9 from the floor with seven turnovers over a 7+ minute stretch, the Knights cut into the CSI lead, 47-43 with 9:58 to play before CSI’s Rachel Rosado canned a three-ball to put CSi back up by seven.  NJCU countered with a 7-0 run, spearheaded by a three-point play by Nidia Carmona, who entered the game in the second half after arriving late.  CSI then asked for time and came back crisp, scoring the next seven points to go back up, 57-50, with 3:58 to play.
CSI grabbed its biggest second half lead since the opening minute when an Olivia Tierno lay-up made it 61-53 with 2:07 to play, but once again, NJCU had an answer.  Maxine Kaminski hit a freebie and after a CSI turnover, Garcia converted a fast break lay-in to cut the lead to five.  CSi then was hit with an offensive foul, and Carmona converted another lay-up in the lane to bring NJCU to within three with 46 ticks left.  NJCU quickly fouled, and CSI’s Victoria Donegan missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Suarez converted another quick transition lay-up to make it a 61-60 game with just 21 seconds left.
The Knights looked to foul quickly and were hit with an intentional foul.  Jaclyn Tocco toed the line for CSi but missed both freebies to keep it a one-point game.  Still with possession, Shanahan was then fouled, and the senior calmly sank both of her free-throws to put CSI up, 63-60.  NJCU never did get another opportunity, as Carmona’s cross-court pass was intercepted by the Dolphins, and another free-throw by Tocco put the game away by the final count.
CSI was led by Shanahan’s 19 markers to go with 9 rebounds and three steals.  Tierno pitched in with 15 points  and six rebounds, while freshman Rosado notched 13 points and four rebounds.  Garcia led all NJCU scorers with 16 points, while Suarez dumped in 14.  Alnisa Nernaiz led all scorers with 12 rebounds. 
CSI’s next game is not until December 29, when the team travels to Old Westbury State for a non-conference match, at 7pm.