ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College returned to the win column by defeating visiting Hartwick on Thursday evening. The Gators upended Empire 8 Conference leader Hartwick, 89-74 in Robison Gym at the Kahl Campus Center. The Gators' victory snaps Hartwick's six-game win streak. With the victory, RSC moves to 9-9 overall and 5-4 in the E8, while Hartwick now stands at 12-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference.
Freshman guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac) led all players with 29 points, including 17 second half points. RSC held a 40-31 edge at the half and never looked back in earning the home win over the Hawks. She added her 10 rebounds and now has seven double-doubles. Senior forward Kyra Oeffler (Green Island, NY/Heatly) tied her career and season-high with 19 having just scored the same last Saturday in a league victor over Elmira.
Senior guard Meghan Murray (Watervliet, NY/Watervliet) tallied 13 points, while freshman guard Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/RCS) added 11 points.
Senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), who was named the Empire 8 Conference/E8 Player of the Week on Monday, added six points with two assists in the contest. Pasinella now has 718 career points which puts her 20th on the all-time scoring list at RSC. She also vaulted to the No. 6 spot with her 106 career three-point baskets. Her 163 career assists is 15th as well now. Oeffler moved into the No. 12 spot in career blocks, as she now has 39, while has now played in 68 career games and ranks 32nd all-time in appearances.
The Hawks had four players finish in double-digit scoring as senior guard Maggie Kirby (Selkirk, NY/Bethlehem) led the squad with 16 points with seven rebounds, two steals and an assist. Senior forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) and senior guard Molly Kirby (Selkirk, NY/Bethlehem) both finished with 13 points apiece. Pritchard led Hartwick in rebounding with nine rebounds with three assists, a block and a steal.
In the first half, the Gators held Hartwick to a 28.0% shooting performance (8-34), while shooting 57.1% (16-28). The 89 points for RSC marked a season-high in scoring as well as RSC finished the night shooting 53.1% from the floor (26-49) and 72.7% from the line (32-44).
Looking ahead, RSC is slated to play at Utica on Saturday at 2:00 pm.
Notes: Senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), a first-team All-Conference pick last season, averaged 18.3 points on 40.5 percent shooting across three games last week...She equaled a program record with eight made three-pointers on Jan. 18 vs. Utica… A Gator has earned E8 Rookie of the Week honors three times this season… Freshman guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac) took home the accolade twice (11/15, 12/6), while guard Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/RCS) was selected on 1/17.
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