In a game that featured 18 total ties and lead changes, The Sage Colleges got the better of the College of Staten Island women’s basketball team, extending to a 60-56 non-conference win in a Sunday matinee at the Sports & Recreation Center.  The Gators advanced to 2-5 overall, snapping a four-game skid, while the Dolphins saw their modest two-game win skein halted, falling to 4-3 overall.

The game was back-and-forth from the opening whistle, as the teams traded a trio of lead changes before knotting up at 8-8 seven minutes into the game.  CSI continued from there on what would amount to a 12-0 run, going ahead by their biggest margin of the game, 17-8, with 7:49 to go in the initial stanza.  The Dolphins had five different scorers in the run, spearheaded by a layup and a pair of freebies from freshman Danielle Kartaris.  The visitors, however, refused to be shaken, ripping off a long 16-6 run over the final seven minutes of the frame to take a modest, 24-23, lead into the lockers.  Chelsea Martin started the run with a baseline three-pointer, and added another layup later in the run to cut the CSI lead to a single digit.

CSI amped up the defensive pressure in the second half, and after Sage took a modest three-point lead, CSI went on a quick 7-0 run in just under three minutes to go up, 30-26, on a Katelyn Hepworth transition bucket.  It would prove, however, to be CSI’s biggest lead of the half, as Megan Bowman and Martin responded with a pair of layup to tie up the score for the first time in what would be seven second half ties. 

A pair of Jaclyn Tocco baskets for CSI tied the score, the final time at 51-51 with 4:09 to play.  From there, however, the game belonged to Sage, as the team pounded the ball inside to Amie Henderson, who converted a pair of critical layups to extend the Gator lead to 57-51 with 1:27 to go.  A couple of Dolphins free throws got CSI down to within four points, but the Dolphins could only muster three shots in the final four minutes, committing a pair of turnovers in the process, as Sage iced the game in the final stages from the free-throw line.

Sage shot an even 50% in the second stanza (13-26) going on to out-shoot CSI for the game 42.9% to 31.7%.  The Gators also enjoyed a heavy, 47-36 edge on the glass, overcoming 35 turnovers.  The Gators were led by Bowman’s 14 markers, as she added four assists and steals.  Martin added 12 points as well for the winners.  CSI was led by a game-high 15 points for Hepworth, while Tocco scored seven points, adding five assists and four steals.

CSI will get back to action on Tuesday evening, when they host the College of Mount Saint Vincent to the Sports & Recreation Center at 6pm.