The College of Staten Island women’s basketball team returns to action tonight and will put their five-game win streak on the line as the Pioneers of William Paterson University come into The Tank, looking to start a win streak of their own. Tonight’s game initiates a three-game stretch for the Dolphins where they will take on non-conference opponents before returning to conference play on January 3, 2018.
CSI vs WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
Matchup: College of Staten Island (7-1) vs. William Paterson (5-3)
Where: The Tank – 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY
All-Time Series: WPU leads 8-4
Last Meeting: December 21, 2016 – WPU won 80-65
Players to Watch (CSI): After notching seven 20-point games last season, Samantha Flecker tallied her first 20-point game of the year against CCNY last Saturday. Flecker shot a superb 67% from behind-the-arc in that game, helping the Dolphins extend their win streak. Christina Pasaturo tallied 20 points last year against the Pioneers and will want to better that mark tonight. Pasaturo has scored 50 points in her last two games, bringing her season average up to 23.5 points per game, good for fourth in the nation. In that meeting last season, Pasaturo also tallied a career-high 10 steals. Angelique Price poured in 18 points against the Pioneers last season, however, she has been unable to hit that mark this season and will hope she can get going tonight with a repeat performance.
Players to Watch (WPU): Julie Rovito paces the Pioneers with 16.1 points per game. Rovito is coming off of a game in which she scored a season-high 25 points against NJAC opponents, Stockton University. Rovito is also the court general as she averages 5.4 assists per game. Tori Woetzel cleans up below the rim for William Paterson to the tune of 6.9 rebounds per game.
News & Notes: The Dolphins come into tonight’s game rolling on a five-game win streak. Staten Island’s lone loss this season came at the hands of Division I opponents, Wagner College. The Pioneers started off their season hot, winning four-straight but have won just one of their last three outings. The Staten Island-William Paterson series dates back to 1998, with the Pioneers holding an 8-4 edge over the Dolphins. Staten Island has won just once in the last five meetings which came during the 2008 season. The Dolphins are 2-1 at The Tank this season while the Pioneers are 5-0 on the road. On the road, the Pioneers are averaging 80 points a game which is six points above their season average. The Dolphins are dropping 73 points a game at home which is seven points below their season average.
