No. 2 Staten Island Wins 60-58 OT Thriller over No. 3 Mercy to Earn First ECC Title Game Appearance

Recap courtesy of Joe Foreman, College of Staten Island Sports Information AMHERST, NY – The College of Staten Island Women's Basketball Team survived overtime in the East Coast Conference Championship Semifinal earlier today against Mercy University as they advanced to their first-ever ECC Championship with a 60-58 victory.  Trailing in the final seconds of both regulation and overtime, Amber Abusbeih and Dana Phelan delivered huge three-pointers to help the Dolphins secure their first-ever Division II championship berth. It was a slow offensive start for both teams as the only two points scored during the first two minutes came from the free throw line.  CSI finally registered the game's first made field goal at the 7:49 mark, but the Mavericks proceeded to score the next four to go in front 6-2.  Later in the quarter, the Dolphins put together a 9-2 run to go ahead by three, their largest lead of the period.  Entering the second with a one-point lead, Jenalyse Alarcon helped lead a 12-0 Dolphins run during which the senior scored nine of her fifteen first-half points.  However, the Dolphins did not score again for the final three minutes of the half, and the Mavericks pulled to within seven at the break, 27-20. After scoring the last four points in the first half, Mercy also scored the first four points of the second half to pull to within three, 27-24.  Alarcon eventually ended the Mavericks run with another score, the first CSI basket in over four minutes.  Mercy then pulled to within three a second time from the line, but Dana Phelan connected on the first Dolphins three-pointer of the game to put CSI ahead by six.  The Mavericks then responded with an 8-0 run to go in front by three, but the Dolphins would end the quarter scoring seven of the last eight. Leading 41-38 entering the fourth, the Dolphins opened the quarter with a suffocating defensive effort that forced the Mavericks into three early turnovers.  This allowed the Dolphins to grow their lead to seven points with under seven minutes to play.  Back-to-back Mercy threes and a pair of free throws would bring the Mavericks to within one with less than four minutes to go, and the Mavericks would take the lead by one with three minutes remaining.  That lead would grow to three with 1:35 left, and the Mavericks entered the final minute leading, 52-49.  Following a missed attempt at the rim and Mavericks rebound, Phelan stole the Mercy outlet pass and found Amber Abusbeih for a game-tying three with 49 seconds to play.  Looking for a go-ahead basket, the Mavericks were forced into a jump ball that gave possession back to the Dolphins with 40 seconds left.  However, the Dolphins came up empty at the rim and left the Mavericks scrambling up the floor with ten seconds on the clock.  Mercy was unable to get a shot off, and the game went to overtime tied at 52.  CSI would score the first basket of OT on a three by Phelan, but Mercy would score the next four points and led by one with 32 seconds remaining.  The ensuing Dolphins possession saw CSI get the ball to Alarcon for a quick score to go ahead with 28 seconds left, but Mercy would take the lead from the line moments later.  Needing a basket to keep their season alive, Phelan connected on a go-ahead three in the final seconds.  The CSI defense would then turn in one final stop at the buzzer to win, 60-58. Alarcon led the Dolphins with 23 points and Abusbeih scored 16 to go along with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals.  Phelan was the third Dolphin in double-figures with 10, and she also added 4 steals at the defensive end. With the win, the Dolphins advance to tomorrow's East Coast Conference Championship against #1 seed Daemen University.  The Dolphins and Wildcats will tip off at noon as the Dolphins look to win their first-ever Division II Conference Championship.
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