AMHERST, N.Y. — #12 (#1 seed) Daemen (23-3, 15-1 ECC) secured a 75-61 victory over #5 seed Staten Island (12-18, 7-9 ECC) in the ECC Semifinals on Saturday at Lumsden Gymnasium. 

With the win, Daemen advances to the ECC Championship game for the seventh straight year and will look to win their fifth straight conference title.

The Wildcats jumped to a 16-0 start and held a commanding 24-9 lead in the first quarter, and maintained control with a 46-point effort in the paint. Staten Island managed to close the gap slightly in the fourth quarter but could not overcome the early deficit.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE


IMPACT PLAYERS

• Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 24 points, converting 10 of her 19 field goal attempts, grabbed six rebounds, and recorded two steals. 
• Sophie Auer (Lewiston, N.Y.) finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, including one block.
• Joline Raposo (Tampa, Fla.) logged 11 points, while dishing out three assists and logging two steals.
• Kyleigh Chapman (Canandaigua, N.Y.) contributed with five assists and added six rebounds. 
• Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) scored 10 points, making five of her seven field goal attempts, while logging three steals and collecting five rebounds.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Daemen opened the first quarter with a strong defensive effort, generating seven steals and capitalizing on Staten Island's 11 turnovers. The home team effectively converted these opportunities into points, outscoring the visitors 18-8 in the paint and 15-0 on fast breaks. The Wildcats' offense was well-distributed, with six different players assisting on plays and a total of 10 field goals made. The quarter closed with Daemen leading comfortably at 24-9.
• Daemen opened the second quarter with a strong offensive push, highlighted by Reece Beaver's (Busti, N.Y.) layup assisted by Auer at 9:43. This set the tone for a sequence that saw the Wildcats capitalize on fast-break opportunities and control the paint, outscoring Staten Island 12-6 in that area. Buntley contributed significantly with a steal and a fast-break layup, extending Daemen's advantage. Throughout the quarter, the Wildcats maintained momentum with efficient shooting, converting 8-of-13 field goal attempts and making all five free throw attempts. Staten Island managed to keep the game competitive with a late 3-pointer by Giuliana Dito, but Daemen closed the quarter maintaining a firm lead, ending ahead 47-29.
• In the third, the Wildcats opened the quarter with solid defensive play and converting turnovers into points. Montgomery's steal and subsequent fast-break layup at 7:10 highlighted the efforts. The team excelled in the paint, scoring 10 points and securing second-chance opportunities with four offensive rebounds. Buntley then contributed key baskets late in the quarter. The quarter ended with Daemen leading 60-40, extending the lead from the halftime score.
• Daemen began the fourth quarter with a solid defensive play as Auer blocked a shot at 9:49. Although Staten Island found success in the paint, scoring 14 points, the Wildcats responded effectively as Montgomery contributed with a layup at 5:31. Buntley added to the momentum with a successful three-pointer at 1:32, pushing the home team's advantage further. Morgan White (New Carsile, Ind.) sealed the quarter with two free throws. 

GAME NOTES

• With the win, Daemen is now 12-3 in the ECC Tournament.  
• The Wildcats logged 12 steals, marking the 14th consecutive game it has posted 12 or more. 
• Daemen grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, recording 10-plus for the eighth consecutive game. 
• The Wildcats forced 21 Dolphin turnovers, scoring 30 points off of them.
• Daemen outscored CSI 46-34 in points in the paint. 
• The Wildcats are now 13-0 all-time against the Dolphins.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats play the winner of the other semifinal game between No. 2 seeded Mercy and No. 3 seeded Molly. 

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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