STATEN ISLAND, NY – The College of Staten Island women's basketball team opened East Coast Conference (ECC) play Wednesday evening at the Tank, falling 71–52 to Mercy University. The loss drops the Dolphins to 0–1 in ECC action and 2–5 overall.

Mercy set the tone early with a 22-point first quarter while holding CSI to nine. Dana Phelan, Arielle Barnes, and Kyra Rose accounted for the Dolphins' scoring in the opening frame, with Phelan contributing five points. The Mavericks continued their momentum into the second quarter, outscoring CSI 21–10 to take a 43–19 lead into halftime.

CSI showed more energy after the break, sparked by a quick bucket from Shonyae Edmonds to begin the third followed by Rose with a score of her own, but the Dolphins still trailed 60–32 entering the fourth. Rose continued to battle, stringing together three straight baskets to trim the deficit to 19 with just over two minutes remaining. She added two more buckets to close the night, but the early gap proved too much to overcome.

Rose led the Dolphins with a career-high 24 points and seven rebounds. Edmonds added eight points and nine rebounds, while Phelan and Giuliana Dito chipped in seven points each. Dito collected three steals, and Edmonds recorded three blocks.

CSI returns to ECC play on Saturday, Dec. 6, when they host St. Thomas Aquinas College at 4:00 PM.