Olivia Tierno led with 18 points in the Dolphins win over Hunter.
The College of Staten Island women captured a 68-57 victory over the Hunter College Hawks on Saturday evening. The Dolphins extend to a 9-8 overall record and a 6-2 conference record. The Hawks dropped to a 4-11 record with a 4-4 CUNYAC record.
In a low scoring first half, the Dolphins went on a 9-0 run to kick off the game. They steadily increased their lead finally taking a 20-10 lead at the six minute mark. With three minutes to go, CSI hit a 14 point lead before ending the half up, 30-18.
Continuing strong at the start of the second half, the Dolphins extended their lead to 15 with back-to-back three pointers from Nikki Fabozzi and Victoria Gallinaro. At the 13 minute mark, Gallinaro stretched the Dolphin lead to 17 with a layup and a made free throw. Over the next five minutes, Hunter turned up the heat as they went on an incredible 19-0 run ending with a Nicole Lenard free throw to tie it at 44 and the go ahead basket by Erika DeJesus. Over the next four minutes, the teams traded leads six times. It wasn’t until a Lisa Galasso layup at the two minute mark that lead to a Dolphins 9-0 run into the final 23 seconds of play. Olivia Tierno sealed the win for CSI in the final 22 seconds making four free throws (two from a foul and two from a technical on the Hunter bench).
Tierno led the Dolphins with 18 points and four rebounds. Melanie Johnson had 14 and four steals while Fabozzi added 12. Hunter was led by Lenard with a game-high 24 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
The Dolphins are back in action Wednesday, January 23 as they travel to York College for a 5:30 pm game.
