The College of Staten Island women’s basketball team has been rolling as of late, winning four-straight. Their opponents today, Hunter College, have also been in form, posting three straight wins. Today’s game will be a clash of the CUNYAC’s top two teams.  

CSI vs. HUNTER COLLEGE
Matchup: College of Staten Island (12-2, 6-0 CUNYAC) vs. Hunter College (12-3, 5-1 CUNYAC)
Where: Hunter Sportsplex- 695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021
All-Time Series: Hunter leads 37-33
Players to Watch (CSI): Samantha Flecker has been playing well for the Dolphins, which earned her CUNYAC Player of Week.  Flecker is coming off of her third double-double of the season, tallying 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win over the Cougars. Pasaturo’s 26 point outing extends her streak to 9 games in a row of 20+ points, however, over a three-game stretch she has not gone to the free throw line. Pasaturo will make it hard for defenders as she is able to get open behind the arc and sink her opportunities or take a defender to the basket for a layup. Diana Todaro scored a career-high 12 points in her last game against the Cougars in just 14 minutes. Todaro also added three rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Todaro brings a physicality when she comes in the game and gives the Dolphins an inside presence. 
Players to Watch (HC): Jade Aponte has started all 15 games for the Hawks this season and is pacing her team with 17.7 points per game. Aponte finds her success from three-point range, converting 27% of her chances. Aponte is also efficient from the charity stripe, cashing in 83% of the time. Ashley Arias and Maya Thompson both average 7.4 rebounds per game and will look to clean up the glass against the Dolphins today to give their team second-chance opportunities. Theresa Leung will find her open teammates or dribble to get her teammates open as she leads the team with four assists per game.
News & Notes: The Dolphins and Hawks have a rivalry that the Dolphins have dominated as of late. The Hawks lead the overall series 37-33, however, the Dolphins have won the last seven meetings by an average of 16 points, with their largest win coming during the 2016 season where Staten Island won by 27 points. As a team, the Hawks are scoring 76 points a game while holding opponents to 54 a game. The Dolphins’ offense is just as potent, scoring 80 points per game while holding their opponents to 55. The quick hands of the Dolphins’ defense make all the difference as their top-5 defense forces 30 turnovers per game.