STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Opening the week on the road, the Queens College women's basketball team matched up against the College of Staten Island Dolphins inside the Sports and Recreation Center in East Coast Conference play Wednesday evening.
The junior duo of forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) and guard
Daja White (Queens, N.Y.) paced the Knights offensively, combining for 24 points, with Awaka scoring 13 and White adding 11. However, a slow start to the fourth quarter stalled Queens' comeback bid as the Knights fell to the Dolphins, 72–54.
GAME RECAP
The Dolphins opened the contest on an 8–0 run before Awaka and sophomore forward
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) sparked a response, pulling the Knights within four, 8–4, by the under-five media timeout.
Coming out of the break, the Dolphins pushed the lead to 13–4 before a three-pointer from rookie guard
Eva Gitto (Albany, N.Y.) at the three-minute mark snapped the scoring drought.
Layups by Ukaegbu and graduate student
Jordan Tobin (Massapequa, N.Y.) helped Queens close the quarter, heading into the second trailing by eight, 19–11.
Queens opened the second quarter strong, as a triple from rookie guard
Enise Hodzic (Queens, N.Y.) at the 9:06 mark trimmed the deficit to five, 19–14. After a brief scoreless stretch, a layup by senior forward
Chyna Bryant (Bronx, N.Y.) at 5:22 brought the Knights back within five once again, 23–18.
Despite CSI extending its lead to seven, 28–21, with 3:43 remaining, Queens clamped down defensively, holding the Dolphins to just three points over the final 3:17. Fueled by baskets from White and Awaka, the Knights closed the half on a 7–3 run and went into halftime trailing by just three, 31–28.
The Dolphins opened the third quarter on a 10–2 run, extending their advantage to 41–30 by the 5:38 mark. A jumper from Hodzic at 5:23 snapped Queens' scoring drought and cut the deficit to single digits, 41–32.
Awaka kept the Knights within striking distance with a personal 5–0 run, trimming the margin to 46–37 with 2:50 remaining in the third. CSI responded with a quick 5–0 spurt to push the lead to 51–37 at the 2:16 mark, forcing a Queens timeout.
Coming out of the break, White scored four quick points for the Knights, but Queens entered the fourth quarter trailing 54–41.
But the comeback attempt would fall short, as the Dolphins opened the final frame on a 7–0 run to extend the lead to 61–41, a deficit the Knights could not overcome.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Awaka recorded her career-best 13th double-double of the season, finishing with a team-high 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with one steal.
- White added 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
- Ukaegbu finished with six points, and eight rebounds.
- Bryant contributed two points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
NEXT GAME:
Head coach
Travis Ponton and the Knights return home on Saturday, January 31, welcoming the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds for ECC action. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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