STATEN ISLAND, NY – The College of Staten Island women's basketball team opens East Coast Conference (ECC) play on Wednesday evening, hosting Mercy University at the Tank. The Dolphins enter the day leading the all-time series, 5–4, after sweeping the Mavericks 3–0 during the 2024-25 season; a run that included the victory sending CSI to its first-ever ECC Championship appearance.

The Dolphins ride a four-game win streak over Mercy dating back to January 24, 2024. Last season's regular-season meetings featured a pair of CSI wins, 60–58 and 63–49 with the first contest of the year being a back-and-forth battle showcasing 11 ties and 13 lead changes. With under two minutes remaining, the teams traded baskets until the Dolphins scored with six seconds left and sealed the win at the freethrow line. In the second matchup on Feb. 12, 2025, played at the Tank, CSI used a dominant second quarter, holding Mercy to just eight points, to pull away for a 63–49 victory. The Dolphins outrebounded the Mavericks 31–26 and forced 15 turnovers, converting them into 18 points to complete the sweep.

The teams met again in the ECC Semifinal, where CSI earned a 60–58 overtime win to secure its first championship berth. The Dolphins again relied on a strong second quarter, holding Mercy to six points to take a 27–20 halftime lead. Mercy responded by outscoring CSI in the final two quarters to force overtime, but the Dolphins prevailed behind clutch play in the extra frame when Dana Phelan buried a three to lift CSI to the two-point win.

This season, the Dolphins enter at 2–4 overall, while the Mavericks stand at 2–3. CSI is led offensively by Shonyae Edmonds, averaging 13.3 points per game after pacing the team during last week's two-game stretch. Arielle Barnes is adding 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest, while Kyra Rose matches her 9.2 points per game and leads the Dolphins on the glass with 7.6 rebounds per game. Mercy features two double-digit scorers and, like CSI, is shooting above 50% from the field through its opening games. The Dolphins hold slight statistical edges, averaging one more rebound per game (36.7) and forcing 19.3 turnovers per outing.