The CCRI Lady Knights basketball team traveled to Orange County Community College (OCCC) in Middletown, New York, to play the Colts of OCCC for a game on Tuesday evening. The Lady Knights beat the Colts, 80-74. With the victory, CCRI improves to 3-2 on the season. The Lady Knights capitalized on excellent shooting from beyond the 3-point arc to overcome an early deficit to the Colts, pulling away at the end for an 80-74 victory. Orange County had a slim, 17-16 lead after the first quarter. Both teams played evenly in the second quarter, scoring 18 points apiece with Orange going into the halftime break with a 35-34 lead. 

In the third quarter, CCRI outscored OCCC, 21-17, to take a 55-52 lead going into the fourth quarter.  

CCRI was able to hold off the late pressure from the Colts, outscoring them, 25-22, in the final quarter to win by the final count of 80-74. Leading the way for the Lady Knights were their two co-captains as Kelsey Hernandez (New Britain, Connecticut) was scintillating from beyond the 3-point arc, making 5-of-8 of her shots from long range to score a game-high 19 points with five assists, four rebounds and a steal. The other co-captain, Mackenzie Brayman (North Stonington, Connecticut), also had an excellent game, scoring a season-high 18 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Also scoring in double-figures was Tiondra Hands (Delray Beach, Florida) with 14 points, including two 3-pointers with five rebounds, four assists and two steals and Ashley VanBemmelen (North Providence, Rhode Island) had 10 points, including two 3-pointers with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. D’Asia Allen (Providence, Rhode Island) added eight points, including two 3-pointers.

The next game for the Lady Knights will be Friday when they travel to New Rochelle, New York, to play the very potent Division I Mustangs of Monroe College at 8 p.m.