ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College closed the regular season by holding off visiting Nazareth 66-61 this afternoon in the Kahl Campus Center.
Sophomore guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac), the reigning E8 Rookie of the Year, forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), a graduate student, led the Gators (16-9/12-6 E8) with 21 points each. Faraj grabbed nine rebounds, while Pritchard, one of four RSC players honored before the matinee as part of the Senior Day ceremony, went 7-of-11 from the field. Freshman guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) added nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Freshman guard Katie MacLachlan and guard Caley Cornwell, a graduate student, topped Nazareth (18-9/14-4 E8) with 14 points apiece.
Today's victory secured the Gators the three-seed in next week's Conference Championship Tournament. RSC will host Alfred, seeded-sixth, in Tuesday's first round. Game time is set for 6:00 pm.
Senior Day: Before today's game, Russell Sage College Athletics recognized four student-athletes: guard Lily Batule (Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley), guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), guard Renna Poulin (Troy, NY/Tamarac), and forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), for their contributions to the women's basketball program.
Notes: 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…She scored 32 points, fourth-most in a game by an RSC player, twice this season (1/28, 2/4)…Pasinella became the ninth Gator to score 1,000 career points on Feb. 11 at Medaille…The 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.
#SageNation