New York, NY | A big third quarter sparked Hunter College, as they were able to then hang on later after a College of Staten Island comeback, to take a 75-71 win at the Hunter College Sportsplex this evening.  The win interrupted CSI's three-game win streak, and dipped the Dolphins to 5-8, while the Hawks lifted to 7-6.

Both teams sparred well in the opening stages, setting the tone for a game that swung in both directions at times and almost seemed destined to be played down to the final whistle.  After HC's Janine Conway and Phoebe Valenton scored the opening points of the game, CSI ripped off the next six points, lay-ups by Jada Rogers, Brianna Robisky and Diana Todaro to take a lead that they would not relinquish again in the first quarter.  CSI went up by as many as four points, the first time when Kayla Schmitter made it 12-8 and then again nearly at the buzzer when Denise Priolo canned a three-pointer to make it 17-13 after the game's first 10 minutes.

CSI would go up by as many as six in the second frame, 21-15, before Hunter punched back with a 9-4 run to close to within 25-24, helped by Conway and Maya Thompson lay-ups and a three from Theresa Leung.  Kristina Arvelo responded with a CSI three to make it 28-24, but HC scored the final four points over the last 2:28, to send the game tied into halftime, 28-28.

The halftime break proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Hunter, as they caught fire from the field and turned the game around.  CSI did stay in stride but by the end of the third, Hunter claimed a 57-51 lead, doubling their entire point total in the third quarter, going 10-17 from the floor with nine of their 10 made field goals coming outside the arc (9-13, 69%).  There were five lead changes in the stanza, with HC grabbing their first lead, 34-31, on a Kristina Krslovic three.  The Hawks nursed the lead up to eight, 48-40, on another Krslovic three, but an 8-0 CSI run would tie it before Hunter surged again to take the six-point edge after 30 minutes.

Hunter did cool down a bit in the fourth stanza, enough for CSI to force a 59-59 tie with 7:33 to go, but an 8-0 Hawks response followed, and from there, CSI was forced to play catch-up the rest of the way.  The Dolphins had their chances, but a trio of misses with inside of five minutes to go, and then a conversion by Morgan Gress from the arc gave Hunter a commanding, 72-64 lead with 2:37 to go, and CSI's chances appeared bleak.

The Dolphins, however, would not quit, and had opportunities to come all the way back. After two misses for the Hawks, CSI converted three free-throws to pull closer, and then after a HC turnover, Deidre Foster converter a lay-up with 1:06 to play to make it 72-69.  The Dolphins would force another miss, and Foster was again the hero the other way, scoring an offensive rebound while fouled, sinking two more free-throws to make it a 72-71 game with 46 ticks to play.  Unfortunately, they would prove to be CSI's final points of the game.  The Hawks drained the shot clock but could not convert on their end.  With possession, CSI would scramble on the inbounds pass and committed a traveling violation, giving the ball back.  Forced to foul, Hunter would make one of two, but CSI still had life down by just two with 11 seconds left.  Jada Rogers would take it coast to coast, getting fouled on the lay-in attempt.  She would miss her two free-throws, however, and with three seconds left, Madison LaSalle added two freebies to put the game on ice as CSI could not overturn the deficit.

HC was led by both Leung and Krslovic' 16 points apiece with both offering a team-high six assists as well.  Krslovic also led Hunter with five rebounds.  The Hawks finished 45.2% from the floor (28-62) and a balmy 46.9% from three point range (15-32).  Conversely, CSI shot just 37.3% (22-59) and were just 6-20 from the arc (30%).  CSI did maximize their free-throws, going 21-27 from the stripe (77.8%) compared to HC's 4-8.  CSI was led by Foster's 16 points, followed by 13 from Arvelo.  Todaro scored a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

CSI will get back to it on Saturday, when they host Brooklyn College at The Tank at 1pm, part of a doubleheader against the Bulldogs.