The College of Staten Island women’s basketball team is officially rolling, looking to extend their win streak to four games tonight when they travel to face York College in Queens to continue their CUNYAC slate.  CSI is 5-1 overall and are a perfect 4-0 on the road this season.  The Cardinals are 1-4 overall, but are coming off their first home win and are looking to strike a win at home once more.

CSI vs YORK COLLEGE
Matchup: College of Staten Island (5-1, 1-0 CUNYAC) vs. York College (1-4, 0-1 CUNYAC)
Where: York College Gym – 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Jamaica, NY
All-Time Series: CSI leads 64-7
Last Meeting: January 28, 2017 – CSI won 77-38
Players to Watch (CSI): Christina Pasaturo is coming off of her second CUNYAC Player of the Week honor, as she averaged 23 points through three games last week, all on the road, and she will look to steady the ship once again tonight against the Cardinals.  Victoria Crea had a hot hand early in CSI’s big win over John Jay and she is averaging 7.8 points per game with a 46% shot from beyond the arc.  Interior threat Samantha Flecker is averaging 11.7 points per contest and leads the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.  Look for her to slash inside, along with Angelique Price, who is averaging 8.5 points per game.  
Players to Watch (YC): The Cardinals have a pair of players averaging in double figures, led by Karen Bellamy, who is posting 18.8 points per contest on 41% shooting from the floor, adding a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game as well.  Look for her to try and get uncorked early.  NyKeisha Paul is next in line with 12.5 points per game and an even 6 rebounds per contest.  The Cardinals are not typically a three-point shooting team, but Giovana Rosado leads that department with four three’s thus far and will spot up from downtown if left open.
News & Notes: The CSI-York series goes way back, dating to 1982, with CSI owning a 64-7 all-time advantage.  The Dolphins have won 14 in a row in the series, with York’s last win coming way back in early December of 2010.  That win came in Jamaica, where CSI is otherwise 27-5 all-time.  CSI has won six straight at the York College gym, with the average margin of victory coming by 26.7 points.  CSI won in Queens last year by a 79-40 count, getting 27 from Christina Pasaturo and 14 from Samantha Flecker.  The Dolphins continue to be dominant on defense, forcing an average of 29.3 turnovers per game, the 9th highest mark in NCAA Division III.  That goes hand-in-hand with their plus-14.7 turnover ratio which ranks them fifth in the NCAA.  Look for that, and ball distribution to be a factor, as CSI is ranked 7th in the nation in assists per game at 20.2.  This could prove trouble for York, who are averaging 23.2 turnovers per game and have a /- ratio of -0.4.  To be successful tonight, York will look to its rebounding as the difference-maker.  York is ranked 40th of 435 NCAA Schools with over 46 rebounds per game.