Five individuals scored in double figures as Oswego State shot 45.7 percent from the field and connected on 21 of 30 free throws (70 percent) in posting a 68-41 victory over Buffalo State College in the SUNYAC women's basketball season finale for both teams on Friday, February 20 in Max Ziel Gymnasium. The game marked the final regular-season home appearances of seniors Heather Merino (Queensbury, NY/Lake George) and Deena Lazore (Carthage/Watertown Immaculate Heart Central).

The victory locks up fifth place in the conference standings for the Lakers (11-14, 9-7 SUNYAC) heading into Saturday's final day of regular season action, maintaining a half-game lead over sixth-place Plattsburgh State. Regardless of whether Plattsburgh wins or loses to New Paltz in its season finale, Oswego holds the tiebreaker over the Cardinals by virtue of its lone victory in head-to-head action in mid-January.

Junior Rachel Kohrs led the Laker quartet with a game-high tying 15 points, shooting 4-for-8 from the field with a pair of three-pointers, and making five of six free throws.  She also registered a game-high five steals and a blocked shot.

Merino, who was a member of the 2005-06 Laker squad that captured its first SUNYAC championship and qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament, capped off her final home game with 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 31 minutes of action, hitting seven of eight foul shots, while freshman Kayla Ryan (Schaghticoke/Hoosic Valley) added 11 points (5-for-6 shooting from the field), four rebounds and two steals.  Junior Tricia Sullivan (Copenhagen) and sophomore Traci Bacon (Massena) chipped in 10 points each, with Sullivan contributing four rebounds and four steals, and Bacon pulling down a game-high six rebounds to go wirh four assists and two steals.

Oswego never trailed throughout the game, jumping out to a 29-11 halftime lead behind seven points each from Bacon and Ryan, and six points from Merino. The team shot 70.6 percent from the line in the half, connecting on 12 of 17 shots. The Lakers maintained their double-digit throughout the second half behind 13 of 24 field goal shooting (54.2 percent) and 57.1 percent shooting  (four of seven) from three-point range, with their biggest lead coming at 27 points on two occasions, including the final score.

Jessica Clark was one of three players in double digits for the Bengals (5-20, 4-12), scoring 15 points and compiling three assists and a pair of steals before fouling out.

Oswego will travel to The College at Brockport in the quarterfinals of the SUNYAC playoffs on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The Golden Eagles are 10-5 in conference play with a game remaining and can finish no higher than fourth place.