Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island Women's Basketball team fell to Saint Thomas Aquinas College today, 62-54. The Dolphins and Spartans went back-and-forth throughout the game, but STAC put together a late run to secure the victory. The Dolphins end their season on a six-game losing streak. They finish with at 6-20 overall record and a 4-14 record in conference play. The opposing Spartans improved to 13-14 and 12-6 in ECC play.

KEY MOMENTS
CSI scratched first, but both teams struggled to score early on. The Dolphins would lead 5-3 at the 6:30 mark of the first quarter. The Spartans began to gain a rhythm following back-to-back triples. At the first stoppage, STAC would occupy a one-point advantage, 11-10. CSI ended the quarter on a surge despite trailing by one, 17-16. The Spartans opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run opening up a five-point lead, 21-16. Following a Gia Esposito triple, the Dolphins would cut within one, 21-20. An Ashley Lambert three would knot the game at 23 with three minutes to go in the half. Both teams would go back-and-forth to close the first half and the Dolphins would enter intermission up three, 31-28. Noemia Massingue got things started for CSI in the second half. The Spartans quickly tied the game at 33 behind efficient offensive play. They caught fire from downtown building a six-point advantage that was swiftly cut in half by a Kristina Arvelo triple, 42-39. At the end of the third CSI trailed by five, 46-41. Back-to-back Jenelyse Alarcon finishes would cut the Spartans lead to just three with under eight minutes to go in the contest, 48-45. Both teams would be tied at 50 at the 5:32 mark of the fourth. STAC opened up a four-point lead forcing the Dolphins to talk it over, 56-52. CSI found themselves on the wrong side of a 9-2 run with a minute to go. They would never recover as the Spartans went on to win 62-54.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 
Despite the loss, the Dolphins had a solid shooting performance today. They shot 30% from the field, 35% from three, and 92% from the free throw line. The deciding factor came in the turnover disparity. CSI was plagued by 18 giveaways to only 12 by the Spartans. STAC turned those in to 14 points. CSI was also doubled up in the paint, 20-10. The Spartans had a balanced floor game in the contest. They shot 38% from the field, 42% from three, and 75% from the line.

DOLPHIN OF THE GAME
Gia Esposito and Ashley Lambert led the Dolphins today. Esposito scored a team-high 15 points behind her 3-7 shooting from deep. She also added two assists, three rebounds, and one steal. Lambert scored 12 points and was also 3-7 from downtown in her team-high 34 minutes of play.
 

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