ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College held visiting Houghton scoreless for the final 2:13 to conclude a stretch of three-straight home games with a 75-67 Empire 8 Conference victory this afternoon in the Kahl Campus Center.
Sophomore guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac), led the Gators (9-5/5-2 E8), which never trailed, with 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting. The reigning E8 Rookie of the Year, who totaled 16 of her points in the first half, added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), a graduate student, who surpassed 1,000 career collegiate points last night vs. Medaille, filled up the box score to the tune of 15 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while sophomore guard Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/RCS) recorded 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Gators, which went 3-0 during the homestand, began the contest on a 20-8 run. RSC, which led by as many as 22 during the opening 20 minutes, went into the locker room ahead 42-31. Houghton (10-4/3-4 E8) climbed back into the game, using a 29-8 run spanning the break to head into the fourth quarter trailing by only five, 59-54.
RSC answered with a period-commencing 8-2 run to regain some control. Down ten, the Highlanders trimmed their deficit to three, 70-67, with 2:13 left, but did not score the rest of the way.
A trio from Houghton tallied twin figures in the setback. Freshman guard Crysta Lacrosse paced the Highlanders with 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
RSC now plays its next four games on the road. The stretch of road contests begins on Friday at Nazareth. The Gators return to the Kahl Campus Center on February 3.
Notes: Freshman guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) was selected the E8 Rookie of the Week on Monday…She averaged 13.0 points across a pair of contests…The Gators are coming off a semifinal appearance in the E8 Conference Championship Tournament…11 players returned from the team…Sophomore guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac) and senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) highlighted the group…Faraj, the 2021-22 E8 Rookie of the Year, surpassed 500 career points on Dec. 29 vs. Rhode Island College…Pasinella, a two-time All-Conference selection, opened the season ranked sixth in program records with 120 career made three-pointers…Forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), a graduate student, surpassed 1,000 career collegiate points on Jan. 13 vs. Medaille...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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