(Valhalla, NY) - When they were 1-5, and losing games by an average of 37 points per game, it was hard to envision that at any point this season, the Westchester Community College Women's Basketball team would put things together to the point where they would build leads big enough to cruise to victory. But, alas, as this team has made constant improvement part of its mission statement, during the 35 days since they last lost a game, the Vikings have made a habit of doing just that. Three straight games, three straight wins, three consecutive times the Vikings were ahead by enough in the second half to simply play out the clock. And while Tuesday's win over Community College of Rhode Island was certainly a bit more interesting towards the end of the game than Westchester CC would like to have seen, the result was still the same ... another victory, a game over .500 for the first time as a varsity program since Women's Basketball was brought back to Westchester CC three seasons ago, and another sign that this young program is coming together together in a big way.

Freshman Donjeta Prelvukaj (Bronx, NY/St. Catharine) scored a game-high 18 points, and added eight rebounds, and fellow freshman Jailine Ruiz (Bronx, NY/Bryant HS) - fresh off of her first career triple-double five days ago - added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Vikings captured their third straight win, 60-53 at Viking Gymnasium. With the win - their ninth over the last 12 games - the Vikings are now 9-8 for the 2019-2020 season.

Prelvukaj and freshman Tina Fabrizi (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck HS) combined to score eight of the game's first 10 points, giving WCC an 8-2 lead 2:19 into the game, and the Vikings never looked back. While CCRI (4-17) was able to cut the deficit to three points - 13-10 with 2:12 remaining in the opening quarter - eight straight Westchester points made it 21-10 with 9:44 to play in the first half. Westchester led 35-26 at halftime.
 
The third quarter was where Westchester blew the game open, outscoring CCRI 18-8, extending the lead to 19 at one point, before taking a 51-34 lead into the final quarter. CCRI, however, did not go down quietly. The Knights outscored Westchester 19-7 during the final 10 minutes, getting as close as a seven point deficit, but that was as competitive as the game would be down the stretch.

Westchester owned a 34%-26% shooting advantage, and won the turnover battle 27-20. But, CCRI did have a 58-53 rebounding edge, including a 27-14 advantage on the offensive glass, which in large part allowed for the late Knights' surge.

Also for Westchester, sophomore Jada Tom (Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton HS) had 13 points, five rebounds, and a team-high four assists, while freshman Sarah Placide (New City, NY/Clarkstown North HS) had 10 rebounds.

Westchester CC now faces their most difficult stretch of games for the 2019-2020 season as the Vikings face five nationally ranked teams, and one Division I foe, over their final 10 games. The stretch begins on Thursday, Jan. 23 when Westchester welcomes NJCAA Division I opponent Monroe College at 6:00 p.m. Monroe defeated the Vikings 89-48 on Nov. 10.