The College of Staten Island women’s basketball team returns to action today after a long lay-off traveling to Cambridge, to take on Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a non-conference showdown, at 2pm.  The Dolphins are rolling, boasting a six-game win streak that they will put on the line today.

CSI vs. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Matchup: College of Staten Island (8-1) vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (6-2)
Where: MIT Gym – 120 Vassar Street, W35, Cambridge, MA 02139
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Players to Watch (CSI): CSI’s dominating senior class continues to lead the charge.  Christina Pasaturo, the Dolphins’ all-time leading scorer leads the way with 23.4 points per contest, showing range with 36 three-pointers, easily the highest mark on the team.  Fellow senior Samantha Flecker is averaging 14.1 points and leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per contest, having been named CUNYAC Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks.  Victoria Crea is spreading the ball around nicely and has put in 7.9 points per game as well recording 32 assists and 18 steals,  Angelique Price is right behind with 7.7 per game sporting 2.5 rebounds per game.
Players to Watch (MIT): The Engineers boats three players who average in double figures.  The charge is led by Taylor V’Dovec’s 14.4 points per game along with 6.5 rebounds per game, just a hair behind Kylie Gallagher’s 6.6 rebounds per contest.  Gallagher puts up 10.1 points per game as well, averaging just 25 minutes per contest.  Kara Holinski is at 13.5 points per game, placing second on the team with 23 assists.  Dolly Yuan leads the was with 34 assists, and is third on the team with nine three-pointers. 
News & Notes: This is the first ever meeting between the schools, and the teams boast no common opponents.  MIT finished 20-6 a year ago, falling in the quarterfinal round of the very competitive New England Women’s & Men’s Athletic Conference Championship.  CSI is 5-0 this season on the road while the Engineers are 2-1 on their home floor.  The Engineers have been idle since Dec. 14, when they won their fifth game in a row after a 1-2 start with a win at Endicott College, 74-51.  MIT is one of the NCAA’s elite defensive sides.  Over the last five games they have given up an average of just 44.8 points per contest.  In fact, the Engineers are 6-0 this season when they give up 60 or less points and are 0-2 when they give up more.  CSI is trending the same way.  They are averaging 79.6 points per game this season and allowing just 52.8.  Their claim to fame is their ability to create turnovers.  CSI is forcing an average of 32.8 turnovers per game and the Dolphins are an astounding +15.9 in that department per game this season.