Jamaica, NY | The College of Staten Island Women's Basketball squad won for the third-straight time and for the fifth time in the last six games, powering by York College on the road, 64-50, in the first of a two-game set between the teams this season.  For CSI, they improved to 5-7 on the season while York fell to 4-8.

A couple of lead changes highlighted the first half of play, and the home side pulled in front, 7-4, when Mac-Dege Dessources scored a lay-up, and later, York took their biggest lead, a modest four points, when Destiny Drummond scored another from in-close.  The Dolphins, however, wasted no time responding, using a Denise Priolo three and then a Diana Todaro lay-up just a few seconds before the close of the first quarter to take a 12-11 lead.

CSI would not relinquish the lead from there, building to 16-11 on a Jada Rogers lay-up just over a minute into the second frame.  A resilient Cardinals side cut the lead the a point on a pair of occasions, but a Kristina Arvelo, followed by another by Priolo, and then a lay-up by Kayla Schmitter gave CSI their biggest lead, 28-21, at intermission.

A 5-0 CSI lead going into intermission grew to 18-0, as CSI then scored the first 13 points of the second half, bouncing CSI up to a tremendous 42-21 edge nearly four minutes into the second half.  Arvelo and Megan McEwan canned a three-pointer in the run, when Brianna Robisky powered in three lay-ups.  

The Cardinals refused to back down, and they would rebound with 12-straight points, highlighted by three Diamond Jackson baskets and two more for Drummond.  From there, however, the Cardinals went ice-cold, and CSI started to catch fire again, finishing the third quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 50-33 lead into the final quarter.

Up by a bunch, the teams stayed even in the fourth quarter, with York failing to gain enough ground to cut the lead to single digits.  With 1:21 to go, the Cardinals cut the lead to 58-48, cutting what was a 19-point lead at one point.  The Dolphins closed the game on a 6-2 bender to finalize the score at 64-40.

CSI's balanced attack was led by McEwan's 12 points to go with 9 assists and three steals.  Priolo added 11 points, while Todaro finished with eight points and 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.  York saw 15 points for Dessources to lead the home squad, adding a hefty 17 rebounds.  Drummond and Jackson finished with eight points each.  CSI was out-rebounded, 47-41, but forced 22 York turnovers to their 13.

Now on a roll, CSI will look to keep it up when they get back to action on Wednesday against the defending CUNYAC-Champion Hunter College at 5PM.