STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Southern Connecticut women's basketball defeated the College of Staten Island, 78-52 on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference matchup. The Dolphins dropped to an overall record of 2-4 while the Owls improved to an overall record of 4-2.
Rheyna Steinauer recorded her seventh double-double of her career, with a team-best of 25 points, as she shot 10-for-15 from the floor, was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, grabbed a team-best of 11 boards and had a block.
Hope Fox had 18 points for the Owls, as she was 5-for-8 from the floor, 2-for-3 from the free-throw line and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. In addition, she had a team-best of five assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Iyanna Cotten had a career-best of 13 points, as she was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, had a team-best of three steals and three assists.
Jada Williams added 11 points, as she was 3-for-6 from the floor, 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, grabbed five boards and had three assists against Staten Island.
As a team, Southern Connecticut shot a season-best of 50% from the floor, 50% from the three-point line and shot 88.2% from the free-throw line.
In the first quarter,
Jada Williams started the scoring off for the Owls with a hook shot in the paint, with an assist from
Hope Fox to tie the game at 2-2. After that, it was a defensive battle for both teams; however,
Taeya Steinauer,
Hope Fox and
Iyanna Cotten helped Southern extend their lead to 11-4. In the final minute, the Dolphins put five points on the board to cut into the Owls' lead with an 11-9 scoreline, heading into the second.
In the second quarter,
Taeya Steinauer and
Jada Williams grew the Owls' lead early; nevertheless, Staten Island took the lead back, shortly after. Two made free-throws from
Rheyna Steinauer helped Southern back into the advantage.
Hope Fox and
Iyanna Cotten combined for 16 points in the second quarter alone, as the Owls worked to their once largest lead of the game with a made three-pointer from
Rheyna Steinauer, to take a 37-24 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Owls picked up where they left off in the first half as
Rheyna Steinauer recorded 11 points.
Taeya Steinauer,
Jada Williams and
Iyanna Cotten added points as well to the Owls' total. With Williams' made free-throws at the end of the quarter, Southern had a 58-42 lead over Staten Island.
In the fourth quarter, looking to make a comeback, the Dolphins started off with a made three-pointer; nonetheless,
Rheyna Steinauer responded with a made three-pointer of her own. Staten Island put points back on the board but Southern Connecticut kept their momentum going with made free-throws by Williams and Fox, a made three-pointer from
Jillian Martin and more points from
Rheyna Steinauer.
Iyanna Cotten scored the last points of the game for the Owls, as Southern finished the game with a 78-52 victory over Staten Island.
The Owls will return home to the James Moore Field House on Wednesday, Dec. 3 for an their NE10 Home Opener against Franklin Pierce at 5:30 p.m.
