Olivia Tierno led the Dolphins with 14 points in the loss.

The College of Staten Island women’s basketball squad fell for the third straight time to start the 2012-13 season, this time suffering through a poor shooting performance en route to a 61-45 loss at the hands of visiting Stevens Institute of Technology in non-conference play at the CSI Sports & Recreation Center.  While CSI fell to 0-3, Stevens improved to a perfect 3-0 on the season.

Despite the final score, CSI and Stevens stayed relatively even throughout much of the first half.  The Dolphins used a 10-2 run over a five-minute stretch to take a 17-11 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the half.  Consecutive lay-ups by Victoria Gallinaro got the run started, but the Ducks powered right back, running off a 9-2 run of their own to grab back the lead 20-19.  After the lead changed hands another pair of times, a three-pointer by Molly Spadaro gave Stevens a 25-23 lead at 3:28, and from there, the visitors never trailed again, taking a 29-26 lead into the locker room.

The Dolphins poor shooting showed at the half as the team connected on just 10-of-37 shots, which included a chilly 4-of-21 from beyond the arc.  Stevens didn’t fare too much better, connecting on just 10-of-32 baskets (31%) while committing a hefty 16 turnovers.

In the second half, the Ducks couldn’t seem to right their shooting, but the work on the offensive boards was beginning to show as Stevens collected 24 offensive rebounds, and held an enormous 63-37 edge in total rebounds.  The Dolphins also struggled mightily from the floor in half number two, connecting on just 8-of-37 shots and a dismal 1-for-17 from long range.  Meanwhile, Stevens continued to steadily build their lead.  A Miranda Ripken layup gave the Ducks their first double-digit lead, 43-33, with 11:53 to go, and later a Dylan Krause lay-in made it 50-37.  CSI went over six minutes without making a field goal, as Stevens took their biggest lead of the game on an uncontested lay-up by Avis Benjamin to make the final count, 61-45.

CSI finished the contest shooting just 24.3% (18-74) and just 13.2% (5-38) from long range.  Tierno led the way with 14 points, while Gallinaro paced the team with eight rebounds.  Stevens had four players in double-figures with Krause leading the charge with 16 points and 16 rebounds.  Spadaro also registered a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

CSI’s next game will be a week from tonight, when they host York College in their CUNYAC opener at 5:30pm.  That game will be followed by the CSI men making their home and CUNYAC debut, playing the Cardinals in a 7:30pm start.