OLD WESTBURY, N.Y.—Tipping off the 2017-2018 season in winning fashion, the Pace University women's basketball team defeated New York Institute of Technology in the first game of the ECC/NE10 Challenge on Saturday afternoon, 76-67. The Setters are now 1-0 to begin the new campaign.

Inside the Numbers
Junior Alexandra Monteleone (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) set the offensive tone for the Blue and Gold, scoring 24 points to lead Pace. Monteleone, the leading scorer a year ago, was 9-of-16 from the floor and was perfect on the free-throw line, sinking all six attempts. Freshman Lauren Schetter (Fishkill, NY/Beacon High School) made a strong impression in her first career game, recording a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Jackie DelliSanti (Commack, NY/Commack) added 15 points on the offensive side as well, shooting 5-of-13 from the field and five-for-five in free throws.

Schetter led Pace in rebounds, while Monteleone and senior Gabriella Rubin (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) added seven boards each. Monteleone led the team with three assists, while senior Geena Rosalbo (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) registered two of the Setters' four steals. Six Setters combined for seven blocks, with Rubin leading the way with two.

As a team, Pace shot 41.8 percent from the floor compared to NYIT's 33.8 percent. The Setters were 19-of-21 from the foul line, including some vital free throws towards the end of the game to hold off an NYIT comeback.

How it Happened
The Setters took three early leads in the first quarter, but were unable to distance themselves from the Bears. Propelled by a 9-0 run, NYIT went up 17-12 with three minutes left in the first. The Bears would maintain the lead heading into the second period, and ultimately the remainder of the half.

Despite trailing for more than 14 consecutive minutes in the opening half, the Blue and Gold began to mount a comeback that gave them momentum heading into the locker room. Pace managed to stay within 10 of NYIT for the duration of the second quarter, and pulled to within two points on four separate occasions. An 8-0 run midway in the quarter put the Setters back within striking distance. Rubin led the charge with four of the points, two via free throws. Pace cut the NYIT lead down to two as the quarter expired, as a Monteleone layup in the final minute made the halftime score 36-34.

While the Bears would make the first basket to open up the third, the Setters went on a 12-4 run to respond and reclaim the lead for the first time since early in the first. Four points from Rosalbo led the team during the three-minute span as Pace went ahead, 46-42. Pace would stretch the lead up to seven to take a 54-47 advantage into the final ten minutes of play.

The Blue and Gold took charge entering the fourth, outscoring NYIT 11-2 in the first three and a half minutes. The 65-49 lead with just over six and a half minutes left in regulation was Pace's largest separation of the day. The Bears responded with a nine point run of their own, all via free throws, to cut the Setter lead back down to seven with 3:30 left to play. NYIT was able to pull to within three with under two minutes remaining, but a perfect seven-for-seven shooting by Pace from the free throw line over the final three and a half minutes was enough to stave off the Bears comeback. DelliSanti sank each of the Setters' final four free throws.

Up Next
The Setters are back in action tomorrow for the final day of the ECC/NE10 Challenge. Pace will take on LIU Post at 3:30 p.m. in Old Westbury, N.Y.