On a night when the Dolphins shot under 25% from the field, the College of Staten Island women’s basketball team fell to Drew University, 71-57, as part of non-league play at the Sports & Recreation Center.  The Dolphins fell to 1-1 on the season, while the Rangers lifted to a 2-1 overall mark.

Statistically, the Dolphins had a great deal of success on the evening in a host of categories.  The Dolphins were a +14 in the turnover column, out-rebounded the Rangers, 22-7, on the offensive glass and were a +28 in shots taken, but the home squad was mired in poor shooting, stymied by the Rangers defense into 24.4% shooting from the field (19-78), 20.8% from beyond the arc (5-24), and a chilly 58.3% from the free-throw line (14-24).  It all spelled doom for the Dolphins, as Drew was able to take a quick 8-0 advantage early, en route to an 18-point lead, 40-22, at intermission.

After Drew advanced their lead to a game-high 22 points, 50-28, in the third stanza, CSI did try and chip away, notching an 11-3 run over a two minute spurt, aided by a Victoria Gallinaro three and a pair of lay-ups by freshman Nicole Vierno, who made her CSI debut with a tremendous, 20-point, 13-rebound, performance.  A Courtney Stephens bucket in traffic was a nice response by the Rangers, but CSI was able to cut the lead to 14 at the end of the third quarter.

Despite their best effort, CSI could not scratch their way back further in the fourth quarter.  Vierno free-throws got CSI to within 13, 65-52, but in a recurring theme of the evening, Drew responded, this time via four straight Hannah Miller freebies to put Drew back up by 17.  A late three-pointer by Samantha Flecker finalized the game at 71-57.

Boasting a healthy 44% shooting touch from the field and a strong 22-27 performance from the free-throw line (81.5%), Drew was led by Miller’s 28 points, adding five rebounds.  Stephens finished with a double-double, finalizing with 21 points and an even 10 rebounds.  Christina Pasaturo finished in double figures for CSI with 18 points, adding 9 rebounds and four assists, while Flecker finished with 11 points and six rebounds, despite a 4-18 shooting performance.

For the Dolphins, the rough shooting performance was their lowest since November 20, 2012, a loss to Stevens Institute.  CSI fell to 3-5 all-time against the Rangers.

?The Dolphins will be back in action on Friday night, when they travel to the Kean University Tip-Off Tournament in Union, NJ.  CSI will play the host Cougars in a 7pm tip-off.