Staten Island, NY – The College of Staten Island Women's Basketball team kicked off their 2021 season with a thrilling 65-63 victory over the Wildcats of Wilmington University in the opening matchup of the inaugural Women's Basketball Conference Challenge this evening. With the win, the Dolphins get off to a 1-0 start while the Wildcats begin their season 0-1.  For CSI Women's Basketball, the win was their first victory over a Division II opponent since becoming a Division II program ahead of the 2019-2020 season.

KEY MOMENTS

Elizabeth Lofaro got her Dolphins career off to a strong start with five straight points for CSI in the opening minutes including a three-pointer to put her team up by one, 8-7. With Lofaro already off to a strong start, Gia Esposito came off of the CSI bench and began her 25-point effort with another Dolphins three. Behind the duo of Esposito and Lofaro, CSI overcame a ten-point deficit and entered the halftime break down only one. Following the intermission, CSI was able to grab a one-point lead momentarily, but they did not extend that lead further until the end of the third when an Ashley Lambert long ball put the Dolphins ahead 48-45. In the final quarter, the Wildcats got back in front by five on a three-pointer that just beat the shot clock, but another Esposito three pulled the Dolphins within one possession yet again. Trailing by five a second time two minutes later, the Dolphins surged to the finish with a pair of steals that helped propel an 8-1 run to close the game. The run was punctuated by a game-tying jumper from Kaia Johnson and a go-ahead free throw by Esposito as CSI earned the two-point victory.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The difference in the game was clearly defined in the box score as the Dolphins shot 9-24 from beyond the arc and held the Wildcats to only 2-14. This outside shooting allowed CSI to earn the win despite allowing Sabreen Muslim to score 24 points while Wilmington shot over 48% from the field. Leading the way in scoring for CSI was Esposito with 25, but Jenalyse Alarcon, Lofaro, and Lambert all scored double-figures as well. Despite a highly efficient performance for Muslim, who dominated in the paint and recorded a double-double, only one other Wildcat, Jade Roberts, reached the ten-point mark.  

DOLPHIN OF THE GAME

It was a night to remember for Gia Esposito in her Dolphins debut as she shot 9-16 from the field and 6-9 from downtown. She accounted for nearly 40% of the CSI scoring and connected on several clutch shots down the stretch that helped CSI secure the come-from-behind win.

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