ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College women's basketball team collected an 83-77 home win over Elmira College on Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 competition. The victory marks the Gators' fourth win in their last five outings and puts RSC at 8-8 overall and 4-3 in the league. Elmira moves to 6-9 overall and 1-6 in the league.
Elmira led 22-20 at the end of the first quarter and 32-30 at the half, before the Gators pulled away scoring 23 points in the third quarter and 30 in the fourth to take the game. Leading the way for RSC was senior forward Kyra Oeffler (Green Island, NY/Heatly) with a career-best 19 points on a double-double with a team-best 14 boards. She added 14 second half points and also erupted for a career-best six blocked shots in the match. The double-double was the third of the year for Oeffler as the Gators have now had 13 double-doubles this season.
Senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) buried five three point baskets and finished the game with 18 points, while rookie guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac) tallied 15 points. Senior guard Meghan Murray (Watervliet, NY/Watervliet) was 6-for-7 from the line with a 4-for-5 effort from the floor en route to her 14 points with seven rebounds, three assists with a blocked shot.
Elmira's senior guard Alyssa Waters (Plattsburgh, NY/Beekmantown) led all players as she finished with 31 points, five assists, four steals and a blocked shot. She tallied 14 points in the first half, while adding 17 in the second half on 11-of-25 shooting. Rookie forward Desiree Roy (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) finished with a double-double in the action as she had 17 points with 10 rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks along the way.
Pasinella now has 699 career points which puts her 21st on the all-time scoring list at RSC. She also vaulted to the No. six sport with her 104 career three-point baskets. Her 160 career assists is 15th as well now. Oeffler moved into the No. 12 spot in career blocks, as she now has 38, while has now played in 66 career games and ranks 33rd all-time in appearances.
Looking ahead, the Gators play at Hartwick on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. on January 25 in Empire 8 play.
Notes: Freshman guard Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/RCS) was named the E8 Rookie of the Week on Monday…She averaged 13.5 points on 42.9 percent shooting in the 2-0 week…Sanderson established a career-high of 17 points on Saturday at Houghton…Eight returnees plus six newcomers comprise this year's roster...Senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), who was named first-team All-Conference last season, headlines the group of returnees...She equaled a program record with eight made three-pointers on Tuesday vs. Utica…Head Coach Allison Coleman, now in her eighth season, began the campaign with a 106-60 (.639) overall record.
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