Box Score
Kayla Ryan converted a layup with 30 seconds remaining to pull the Oswego State women's basketball team within one point, but the Lakers came up short in a 56-53 loss to host Oneonta Tuesday night. Oswego State outscored the Red Dragons, 15-4, in the final 9:35 of the contest, but Oneonta's Mary Kate O'Connell sank two free throws with six seconds left to seal the victory. The Lakers fell to 5-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while the Red Dragons improved to 11-1 on the season and 5-0 in the SUNYAC standings.
Ryan was one of four Oswego State players to reach double-digits with 15 points to go along with five rebounds. Starters
Traci Bacon and
Colleen McCready contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, with McCready also grabbing nine boards.
Jenna Rossi came off the bench to add 12 points and six rebounds.
Oneonta was paced by Madison Slagle's 25 points followed by 12 points and nine rebounds from Erika Puffer.
The Lakers held an early 12-8 lead following a three-pointer by Rossi and a layup by
Meagan Stover with 12:38 on the clock. Both squads traded the lead throughout the rest of the first half before Kelly Mulligan hit a jump shot as time expired to give the Red Dragons a 32-28 lead heading into the locker room.
Oswego State shot 45 percent (9-of-20) from the floor, but committed 13 turnovers that turned into 13 points for Oneonta.
The Red Dragons carried over the momentum gained just before halftime into the second half as they rattled of seven straight points in the first three minutes to make the score 39-28. Oneonta maintained the margin before a free throw by Mulligan gave the Red Dragons' their largest advantage of the contest at 52-38 and 9:35 to play.
The Lakers responded, though, by holding Oneonta scoreless for the next four minutes, while Ryan scored a pair of layups and Bacon hit a trey to bring Oswego State to within six points at 52-46. The Lakers continued to chip away at the lead until Ryan's putback with 30 seconds nearly completed the comeback as the Red Dragons clung to a 54-53 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Oneonta missed the front end of a 1-and-1 as McCready came down with the important board. Oswego State went down the court, but was unable to convert a shot in the paint and the Red Dragons' O'Connell came away with the rebound. She was immediately fouled, and proceeded to knock down both free throws with six seconds left in regulation. The Lakers threw up one last attempt to send the contest into overtime, but the shot missed giving Oneonta the win.
Both squads struggled from the field, as neither shot above 35 percent. However, Oswego State almost came away with the win from the free throw line, hitting 14-of-16 (87.5 percent), compared to the Red Dragons shooting 57.9 percent on 11-of-19.
The Lakers will look to get back into the win column on Friday when they host Potsdam on Friday
at 6 p.m.
