The College of Staten Island women’s basketball team got back in the win column today, scoring a hard-fought, 75-70, win over Rosemont College in the Consolation Game of the Susquehanna University Pepsi Tip-Off Tournament played in Selinsgrove, PA.  The win lifted the Dolphins to 2-3 overall, while the Ravens fell to 0-3 to start the season.
 
There were 10 ties and 20 lead changes in the game, and in the first half, CSI grabbed an early lead before they would be forced to come back on a pair of occasions.  After scoring 36 points in their loss yesterday, RC’s Liz Coyne was on fire in the early stages, scoring 15 of the Ravens’ opening 19 points, giving the team a 19-10 lead at the 11:44 mark, but CSI came roaring back.
 
Two baskets by Samantha Flecker got CSI started on a 10-0 run that gave CSI the lead, setting the stage for the recurring theme all afternoon.  CSI parlayed the comeback into a 23-21 lead, but RC swung back, taking another sizable 32-25 lead on a Coyne inside drive at 3:52.  Again, CSI contested, closing the half on an 11-0 run to take a 36-32 lead into the lockers.  Flecker scored another four points in the run, and CSI added a Megan Myhre three as well.
 
In the second frame, poor shooting and another poor turn from the free-throw line crippled the Dolphins and the Ravens took advantage on the glass, earning a series of second-chance points in the process.  A 9-0 run by RC, capped by a Jasmyn Parker jumper gave RC a 46-43 lead, and later, the team took its biggest lead of the frame, 68-64, on a Leilani Naone-Carter jumper in the lane.  CSI was also hit hard, as injuries knocked out both Flecker and Victoria Gallinaro.
 
Still, CSI had room for another comeback, and again made their move, closing the game on an 11-2 run.  First, Victoria Crea jammed in a lay-up, and CSI then took the lead on a Crea three-point play the hard way.  After a missed three-pointer, CSI followed with a big short jumper by Ashley Iannacone with the shot clock almost at zero, giving CSI a 71-68 lead with just 55 ticks remaining.  CSI forced another miss, but a big rebound by Curtrena Goff sent her to the line and she made both free-throws with 20 seconds remaining.  Forced to foul, the Ravens put Gallinaro on the line, who entered the game just moments before from the locker room.  Struggling from the line all season, the junior made both ends of her free-throws, giving CSI a 73-70 edge.
 
A costly turnover by CSI allowed RC another chance to tie the game after a miss, but CSI’s Christina Pasaturo corralled a rebound and was fouled with five seconds left, and the frosh made both ends as well for the final points, icing the game.
 
CSI shot 45.8% from the field (27-59) but were once again plagued by a frigid stretch from the charity stripe at 17-31 (55%) and the team was forced into 16 turnovers.  RC shot just 33.3% (26-78), but owned a monster 55-52 advantage on the boards.
 
Pasaturo led all Dolphins with 18 points and 9 rebounds, while Gallinaro finished with 12 markers in 23 minutes.  Coyne finished with 19 points and a team high 11 rebounds for RC.
 
CSI returns to action on Tuesday evening in their home and conference opener against Hunter College at the Sports & Recreation Center at 5:30pm.