CSI's Olivia Tierno led CSI with 14 points

In a game pitting two impressive defenses to this point in the season, it was visiting Ramapo College that led coast-to-coast in a 66-55, non-conference, win over the College of Staten Island women’s basketball unit at the Sports & Recreation Center. Ramapo lifted its overall mark to 12-4, while the Dolphins slipped to 8-7. The Dolphins were mired in cold shooting all night, converting on just 27% from the field.

Giving up a stingy 50.7 points per contest this season, the Roadrunners flaunted their defense from the get-go, opening up a 13-3 lead over the first 5:35 of the game, as CSI started the game shooting just 1-10, a stretch that included connecting on just one of four free-throws as well. Meanwhile, RC’s Faith Flannery scored a pair of baskets in the early going to get the Roadrunners started, and later, after CSI knocked the RC lead down to eight, 15-7, the visitors embarked on a 10-0 run that spanned exactly six minutes. The run featured three straight transition baskets by Micaela Moore, giving Ramapo a 25-7 advantage.

Ramapo would end up taking a 20-point lead into the lockers, 38-18, as CSI shot a dismal 6-36 from the floor (17%) in the stanza, while the Roadrunner forced 10 CSI turnovers and blocked 10 first half shots.

Both teams struggled in the second half, even though Ramapo led by as many as 22 on a pair of occasions. The Dolphins started the second frame connecting on just two of their first 15 shots (13%), before a transition lay-in by Nikki Fabozzi at 10:49 got the Dolphins started on a spirited attack.

Free throws by Anna Fucci and Moore put Ramapo up by 19, 47-28, before CSI struck fire, scoring a 16-2 run over the next 4:26 to come to within five points, 49-44, with five and a half minutes to go. CSI’s Olivia Tierno connected on a pair of baskets while Megan Mhyre connected on a three that prompted Ramapo to ask for time in an effort to regroup. The rest proved to be a good recipe, as the Roadrunners bounced back. A basket by Alayna Donadio got the visitors started, and after a CSI turnover, Jackie Jerkovich converted an easy layup the other way. After CSI’s Melanie Johnson canned a three, Ramapo followed with an 8-1 run over the next two minutes capped by a Jerkovich three, to give Ramapo a 63-50 lead with just over two minutes to play. From there, free-throws and a pair of misconnections and a turnover spelled doom for CSI and Ramapo held on for the 66-55 final.

For the game, Ramapo shot 44.2% to CSI’s paltry 27.5% (19-69). Ramapo enjoyed a 52-41 advantage on the glass despite committing 22 turnovers to CSI’s 14. The Roadrunners would finish with 12 blocked shots. Jerkovich led all scorers with 18 points, five assists and four blocks. Flannery added 15 points, while Moore led with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. CSI received 14 points and seven rebounds from Tierno, while Fabozzi pitched in with 13 markers and a team-high eight rebounds.

CSI will be back in action on Wednesday, when they travel to face John Jay College as part of CUNYAC action at 5pm.