BRONX, N.Y. - Welcome back, Leslie Mencia.

Returning to the lineup after missing the previous three games, the senior forward/guard posted a game-high 24 points to spark the Lightning to a dominant 74-58 victory over the College of Staten Island on Sunday night at Hostos Community College.

The win places Lehman in Wednesday night's CUNYAC/Con Edison Basketball Semifinals where the team will face top seeded Brooklyn College.

Mencia showed no signs of rust as she scored eight quick points for the Lightning, including her 1,000th collegiate point on a layup with 13:20 remaining in the first half.  She was especially sharp from field shooting 10-of-15 for the game, including 4-of-9 from three-point territory.

Lehman took a while to get rolling as the Dolphins held a lead, 12-11, seven minutes into the half.  The Lightning used an 8-0 spurt to take a nine-point lead, but five points by Olivia Tierno helped CSI cut its deficit down to 22-19 after a jumper by Katelyn Hepworth.

Starting with a layup by Mencia, the Lightning took command of the game with a 22-4 run over the next nine minutes, which included the final seven minutes of the opening stanza and the first two minutes of the second half, to open up a 44-23 advantage.

The decisive stretch featured baskets by Shalaya Nieves, Amanda De La Cruz, Jaleesa Gordon and Paula Robinson in addition to Mencia.  But it was Mencia who put the final nails in the CSI coffin as she knocked down three pointers on back-to-back possessions to put the Lightning up by 21.

Lehman's lead would eventually reach 25 in advance of the game's final score.

Overall, the win was a total team effort with De La Cruz pushing for a triple-double with 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds; Nieves grabbing a game-high 12 boards; Robinson adding eight points and eight rebounds; Gordon nearly notching a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds; and Alicia McDaniel pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with six points.

Wednesday night's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at City College of New York.  Tickets are free but must be attained by visiting the CUNYAC website (cunyathletics.com/tickets).

Prior to the start of Sunday night's contest, Lehman Athletics recognized its three departing seniors, Mencia, Gordon and De La Cruz.  All three are surely happy to know that they will have at least one more game to wear the royal blue and gold.