Senior co-captain Heather Merino (Queensbury) registered a game-high tying 22 points, with 16 of them coming in the opening half, as the Oswego State women's basketball team kicked off the 2008-09 season with an 81-49 triumph over Cazenovia College at Max Ziel Gymnasium on Saturday, November 15.

Merino was one of three players to score in double digits for the Lakers, who had 11 of 12 players in uniform score points.  Freshman Kayla Ryan (Schaghticoke) tallied 13 points, hitting seven of 11 shots from the free-throw line, and junior co-captain Rachel Kohrs (New Lebanon) added 12 points as Oswego never trailed throughout, jumping out to a 41-25 halftime advantage.

Junior guard Coleen Clarke (Johnson City) led the Wildcats with 22 points, 12 coming in the opening half, followed by freshman Larika Smith (Syracuse) with 11 points.

Oswego will play host to Bridgewater State College (MA), Ithaca College, and SUNY Cobleskill in its annual Tip-Off Tournament on Friday and Saturday, November 21-22. Bridgewater State and Ithaca play in the opening game at 6 p.m., while The Lakers take on Cobleskill in their opening-round matchup at 8 p.m.  The third-place and championship games will take place the following day at 2 and 4 p.m., respectively.