The College of Staten Island women’s basketball team extended their winning streak to seven games, pulling past visiting York College, 73-36, at the Sports & Recreation Center tonight as part of CUNYAC action. CSi extended tp 14-3 overall and 9-0 within the CUNYAC, while the Cardinals fell to 2-14, 1-8, respectively.
The Dolphins opened the game on a 6-2 run that caused York to call an early timeout in the hopes to reorganize. The time out seemed to have motivated the Cardinals as they came out firing on all cylinders and the team was able to rally within one point with 12:39 remaining in the first half. Megan Myhre quickly put a stop to that as she hit a deep three to regain the lead for her team.
After an extended period of time where neither team was able to score and turnovers were abundant on both sides coach Tim Shanahan decided to call a timeout to give his team a breather and to change the tempo of the game. Straight out of the timeout CUNYAC Player of the Week Melanie Johnson hit a three from the corner. The shot ignited an 11-2 run from which the Dolphins never looked back.
An amazing circus-like play occurred at the 4:40 mark that highlighted the first half. Johnson was able to block a shot in which Myhre rebounded the ball and threw a full court pass that was headed out of bounds when Johnson came flying in to make an acrobatic pass to Jamie Pifalo, who laid it in for an and-one play. That play increased the Dolphins lead to 30-17, now well on their way to being in full control.
CSI led 41-23 at half time and improved their shooting from a low 25% from early on in the first half to finishing the half shooting 46%.
The Dolphins came out the same way they ended the first half and had an 8-1 run thanks to some shifty ball movement and good defense. The Dolphins’ passes were much crisper leading to quick transition baskets while York’s offense continued to be plagued by turnovers, and through 10 minutes, the visitors managed only seven points.
Ultimately, York’s downfall in this game was their inability to hold onto the ball. They had 28 turnovers in tonight’s game. The Dolphins were able to penetrate the paint with ease tonight, scoring 26 points in the paint while adding 21 points from behind the arc. The Dolphins were able to hold the Cardinals offense to just 20% shooting from the field and 8% shooting from behind the arc.
The final score of tonight’s contest was 73-36 in favor of the Dolphins.
Johnson finished tonight’s game with 25 points and 6 rebounds, Myhre did what she does best and made five three pointers on 13 shots. Katelyn Hepworth continued to tally on points to her 1,000 point career as she had yet another double-double tonight with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
CSI extends their winning streak to seven in a row and keeps their CUNYAC undefeated streak alive.
The Dolphins next game is Saturday at 3pm in the Sports and Recreation Center against Brooklyn College.
