GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Pace University Women's Basketball officially opened the 2025-26 season with a strong road performance on Friday night, pushing past Dominican University for a 68-65 victory at the Center for Recreation and Sport in Garden City, N.Y. Anisa Akinola, Ciara Collins, and Grace Ziogas powered the Setters' offense with a combined 58 points as Pace began the new campaign at 1-0.
Pace set the tone early with confident ball movement and shot-making. Akinola knocked down the first Setter jumper of the season before Collins found her rhythm, hitting from mid-range and then connecting from beyond the arc.
Ziogas soon added a deep three, and Collins converted in transition to extend the lead. Throughout the opening stretch, Cali Chiocchi, Morgan Ryan, Ciera Cevallos, and Jaylyn Chorba helped Pace maintain pace and composure as the Setters built a 28–17 halftime advantage.
The Setters' offense exploded out of the locker room. Ziogas buried another three to start the period, Collins drained her fourth triple of the night, and Akinola continued attacking the rim with authority.
Ryan stepped in with a timely three from the top of the arc, pushing the lead to 46–30. Akinola added multiple strong finishes, Ziogas hit another jumper, and Chiocchi, Cevallos, and Chorba provided important stability handling the ball and protecting possessions as Pace carried a 52–41 lead into the final minutes.
Dominican battled back late, but Collins answered with a key jumper and later sank two clutch free throws in the closing minute. Akinola controlled the glass in the final stretch, and Ziogas knocked down another difficult mid-range shot to keep Pace in front. With the margin trimmed to two in the final seconds, Chorba stepped to the line and delivered the final free throw of the night to secure the win as the Setters closed out their season opener with composure.
Akinola finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, notching a season-opening double-double. Collins tallied 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including four threes, and Ziogas posted 18 points while stretching the floor with four made triples of her own.
Chiocchi added six points, seven rebounds, and three assists, and Ryan, Cevallos, and Chorba each contributed key plays across the second half. Pace shot a strong 11-for-27 from deep, topping 40 percent from three as a unit.
The Setters continue to play at the Adelphi Conference Challenge tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., taking on Caldwell University in Garden City, N.Y.
