STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - - Sabreen Muslim recorded a double-double but it wasn't enough as Staten Island scored the final four points to take the 2021-2022 season opener, 65-63, from the Wilmington University women's basketball team on Saturday night at the Sports & Recreation Center.
Under the direction of first year head coach Kerry Jenkins, the Wildcats (0-1) led by one point, 17-16, after the first quarter of play and again by a point, 33-32, at the halftime break. The Dolphins (1-0) took a one point lead, 50-49, into the final quarter of play, but the Wildcats had a chance to win down the stretch before the Dolphins made a final push.
A Sabreen Muslim old fashioned three-point play midway through the second quarter gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 27-17, before Amaja Mack hit a jumper to keep the Wildcats up by nine, 31-22, with 3:38 before the half. But the Dolphins responded with a 10-0 run to take a 32-31 lead before Sabreen Muslim converted the final bucket of the half, giving the Wildcats a 33-32 lead at the break.
The Wildcats went on a 6-0 run in the third to take a 41-36 lead with 5:31 to play in the quarter, but the Dolphins went on a 9-2 run, hitting a pair of three pointers to take a 48-45 lead with 1:52 showing on the clock in the third. Daja Caiborne brought the Wildcats to within one with a layup, but the home team scored again with their final possession of the quarter. Kiara Eubanks was able to beat the clock however, putting in a layup with three seconds left to bring the Wildcats to within a single point, 50-49, at the end of the third quarter.
Sabreen Muslim put in back-to-back layups to give the Wildcats a 56-54 lead, and then Amaja Mack hit a deep three-pointer with 3:28 to play to give the Wildcats a 59-54 lead. The Dolphins' Gia Esposito quickly responded with a three-pointer of her own before Jade Roberts put the Wildcats back up by four points with a layup with 2:45 left in regulation.
The Dolphins stepped up the pressure and forced turnovers down the stretch, getting back-to-back layups to pull within one, 62-61 with 1:38 to play. Amaja Mack hit a free throw for a 63-61 lead but the Dolphins answered right back, tying the game, 63-63, with a jumper as the clock hit under one minute to play.
The Wildcats missed on their next possession, giving the ball back to Staten Island with 40 seconds to play. Gia Esposito was fouled and was able to hit the second free throw to give the home team a slight 64-63 lead with 30 seconds to play. The Wildcats held for the last shot and after good ball movement, Amaja Mack had a shot for the lead, but her three-pointer was off the mark, allowing the Dolphins to slip away with the victory.
Sabreen Muslim finished with 24 points and a game high 12 rebounds, shooting 11-of-16 from the field. Jade Roberts added 10 points and six rebounds while Amaja Mack finished with nine points. Emily Ansah had nine rebounds and five assists for the Wildcats as well.
The Wildcats outshot the Dolphins, 48.2 percent to 41.7 percent, but hit on just 2-of-14 from beyond the three-point arc. The Wildcats also out-rebounded the Dolphins, 40-29.
The second game of the CSI Tournament is set for Sunday afternoon when the Wildcats battle Franklin Pierce. The Raven defeated Holy Family, 68-57, on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.