ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College concluded 2022 by falling to visiting Bates 72-53 this afternoon in the Kahl Campus Center.

The Gators (6-3) started strong, opening the non-conference matinee on a 9-2 run.  Bates utilized a 15-0 first half outburst spanning the quarter break to gain control. The stretch, part of a larger 29-5 jaunt across 8:08, helped put the visiting Bobcats up 53-29 at the half.

Sophomore guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac), who netted her 500th career point on Thursday vs. Rhode Island College, topped all participants with 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting.  Forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), a graduate student, registered 10 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season.  The transfer added six assists, four blocks and two steals.

Bates (6-4), which led by anywhere from 17 to 26 during the final 20 minutes, had three players tally double figures in the road victory. Senior guard Meghan Graff led the trio with 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Morgan Kennedy tossed in a dozen points, while junior guard Davina Kabantu netted ten.

Looking ahead, RSC, which got off to its best start to a season since 1988-89 at 6-1 and will enter the new year with a 2-0 Empire 8 Conference ledger, returns to the court on Friday, Jan. 6 at Elmira. The E8 contest is set to begin at 5:30 pm. 

Notes: Pritchard was named the E8 Player of the Week on December 5...She averaged 19.5 points on 59.0 percent shooting, 9.0 rebounds, 6.33 assists, 1.33 blocks, and 1.33 steals across a 3-0 week...Pritchard totaled 44 points on 72.7 percent shooting, 18 rebounds, 13 assists, four blocks, and four steals to help RSC open E8 play with a pair of home wins on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3...The Gators are coming off a semifinal appearance in the E8 Conference Championship Tournament…11 players returned from the team…Faraj and senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) highlighted the group…Faraj was voted the 2021-22 E8 Rookie of the Year, while Pasinella, a two-time All-Conference selection, opened the season ranked sixth in program records with 120 career made three-pointers…Head coach Allison Coleman began her ninth season at the helm with an overall record of 119-74…She secured her 125th career victory on Dec. 3, 2022 vs. Keuka. 

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