CUNYAC Championships New York, NY---For the second year in a row, the Brooklyn College women's basketball team will be heading to the CUNYAC Championship game!  They join the Brooklyn men who advanced to the final last night, also defeating CSI. The #2 Bulldogs defeated the #3 College of Staten Island this evening, 76-70, to play in the final on Friday, 2/26, at CCNY against #1 Lehman College who advanced by defeating CCNY in the first semifinal of the evening.  Tip-off is slated for 6:00 PM.  The men's game is scheduled for an 8:30 PM start.  

With Brooklyn clinging to a three-point lead, junior guard Taylor Gallagher came up with a clutch offensive rebound leading to a Karen Mak free throw to give the Bulldogs a two possession lead with 1:01 remaining in the game.  BC was able to hold on to the lead until the final buzzer with made free throws and key stop when the Dolphins had the ball in a one-possession game with :25 remaining.   
 
Sophomore guard Karen Mak gave the Bulldogs an early 4-0 lead with a lay-in and pull-up jumper in the first couple of minutes of the game.  The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first three and half minutes of the opening period.  Despite BC limiting the Dolphins to 2-10 from the floor in the first five minutes, CSI tied the game 9-9 at the 3:34 mark.  The Dolphins took their first lead of the game, 12-9, thirty seconds later.  Following a long Twanda Holder made jumper, the Dolphins banked one home for the 18-15 lead just as time expired in the first period.  Turnovers plagued the Bulldogs in the opening period, committing ten in the first ten minutes. 
 
Brooklyn started the second period with five unanswered points to retake the lead, 20-18.  The quick run was capped by a made Justine Vento three-point field goal.  A couple of Karen Mak lay-ups gave the Bulldogs a 24-20 lead.  However, CSI responded with a 7-2 run to take a 29-26 lead with 2:02 remaining in the first half.  Trailing 32-28, freshman guard Alexandra Moogan knocked down a three-pointer with three ticks on the clock that cut the Dolphin lead to 32-31 at the half. 
 
CSI shot 40% (6-15) from beyond the arc in the first half.
 
Karen Mak paced Brooklyn with nine first half points on 4-7 from the floor. 
 
CSI would take advantage of a stagnant BC second half start, scoring four unanswered points to take a 36-31 in the first two minutes.  Maya Agee-Thomas got the Bulldogs on board with a lay-in just under the seven minute mark.  The Dolphins grabbed a 41-35 lead with 6:15 remianing in the third period.  However, the Bulldogs would responded and a Taylor Gallagher reverse lay-in cut the CSI lead to two at the 5:28 mark.  A Gallagher three gave the lead back to BC, 44-43 with 2:30 left in the third.  A couple of made Vento free throws extended the BC lead to three.  The lead didn't last long with the Dolphins responding with a three on the ensuing possession to knot the game at 46.  Moogan drained another three in the final minute of the period to give the Bulldogs a 51-46 advantage.  Mak would make one of two free throws to give the Bulldogs the 52-46 lead heading into the final period. 
 
The Bulldogs extended their lead to eight points on their first offensive possession of the final period.  CSI would not lay down, tying the game 60-60.  BC's Justine Vento broke the tie with a made three with just under three minutes remaining in the game.  

Sophomore guard Karen Mak and junior forward Olivia Colbert led the way for the Bulldogs with 18 points a piece.  Colbert also grabbed 17 rebounds for the game's only double-double.  Taylor Gallgher provided a big punch off of the bench adding 15 points and five rebounds.

CSI's Christina Pasaturo led all scorers with 23 points