The College of Staten Island women's basketball team made quite a first impression on Saturday, taking the opening leg of the Stevens Tech Tip-Off Tournament over hosts Stevens Institute of Technology, 71-61, at the Canavan Arena in Hoboken, New Jersey, earlier this afternoon.  CSI (1-0) will move on to the Championship leg of the tourney tomorrow at 3pm to play The College of New Jersey.  Stevens Tech, the defending ECAC Metro NY/NJ Postseason Tournament Champions, will face Middlebury College in the consolation matchup at 1pm tomorrow.

Contrary to what the final score might indicate, the Dolphins had to climb quite a hill to score the win.  After the teams traded early baskets, Stevens used a run to go up by as many as double-digits in the initial frame.  By halftime, Stevens had built a 40-32 edge, as CSI shot just under 35% from the field.

It was more of the same in the early stages of the first half, and Stevens used another stifling run to bulk up a sizeable, 55-40, lead with just over 11 minutes to play.  CSI head coach Marguerite Moran quickly called time-out, and when the team regrouped on to the court, the Dolphins seemed like a different unit.

CSI closed the game on a numbing 31-6 run, playing one of their most impressive runs of basketball in recent memory, and avenging a loss to the Ducks in the ECAC Semifinals a year ago in the same arena.

The Dolphins were led by senior Nicole Estrada, as she bagged a team-high 19 markers to go along with six rebounds.  Sophomore Allie Shanahan netted 16 points on 4-11 shooting from behind the arc, also grabbing five rebounds.  Fellow soph Kristen Panariello also bagged 16 points, adding a game-high four steals. 

Stevens' Paige Armstrong turned in a monster game, tallying 11 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, while Brittany Fuller paced the way in scoring, with 19 points.  Dani Dudek chimed in with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the losing effort. 

The game was a tale of two halves in terms of shooting.  CSI shot just 32.2% (10-31) in the first half, but a blistering 48.3% (14-29) in the second.  Conversely, the Ducks posted a 48.4% clip (15-31) in the first, but just 25% (8-32) in the second.  CSI also protected the ball better, posting just 11 turnovers to Stevens' 20.  The teams combined to shoot just 24-40 from the charity stripe.

CSI will face TCNJ in the tourney final tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.  The Lions scored an impressive 65-47 win over the Panthers in teh opening game of the tournament.