ALBANY, N.Y. – A relentless Westfield State press proved to be too much for Russell Sage College Women's Basketball in this evening's 86-63 home loss.

The Gators had five players score at least seven points, including three in double figures, in the non-conference setback. Senior guard Olivia Huneau (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) topped RSC with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Junior guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) and senior guard Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coyemans-Selkirk) added 11 and 10 points respectively, while senior guard Malena Gereau (Schroon Lake, NY/Schroon Lake Central) contributed eight points, six rebounds, six steals, and two assists.

Senior forward Jordan Grant led Westfield State (11-5), now on a four-game winning streak, with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting.  

RSC led 17-14 after the opening period, before the Owls, which entered the contest ranked in the top-three nationally in both three-pointers attempted and turnovers forced per-game, and their wave after wave of pressure, used a 30-10 second quarter to take control.  Westfield State, which led by as many as 32, turned 37 Gator turnovers into 40 points.

Looking ahead, RSC (3-11) returns to Empire 8 Conference play on Friday at SUNY Poly.

Gator Bites with Papa John's: The season marks the first with Michael Branche as the Head Coach of RSC Women's Basketball…He had been an assistant women's basketball coach since July 2020…12 players, making up just shy of 94 percent of the team scoring returned for the Gators…The dozen combine with five newcomers on this year's squad…Acosta, and junior forward Aniyah Kelley (New Castle, DE/William Penn), and Sanderson headline the returning Gators…Acosta, who tops the Gators in scoring, began the week leading the Empire 8 Conference in free throw percentage…As of Monday, RSC was the only program in the Conference with three of the top-13 foul shooters…Huneau, Sanderson, and Gereau were voted captains of the team.