OSWEGO, NY - The Lakers welcomed the SUNY Poly Wildcats for the first round of the Max Ziel tournament in Laker hall on Friday.
 
THE BASICS
Oswego 56 (1-1, 0-0 SUNYAC)
SUNY Polytechnic Institute 43 (0-2, 0-0 Empire 8)
Max Ziel Gymnasium, Oswego, NY
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Shania Iglesis was the story to start out this game. It wasn't all her to start as it was back and forth for the first four minutes. Iglesias stepped on the gas pedal and helped sponsor a 11-0 run to get Oswego out to an early 19-9 lead in the first quarter of play. Iglesias had 9 of those 11.  On the other side it was a 2 headed monster for SUNY Poly as only 2 players scored in the first 10 minutes. It was the Senior Alivia Turk with 4 and the Sophomore Alysa Jackson, with 5. The Wildcats were shooting an atrocious 3-20 from the field and not swinging the rock enough. They finished with only 1 assist in the first. For the Lakers, it was the complete opposite as they finished with 7 assists and shot an efficient 7-20. 

Basketball is a game of runs. But what is even more important is how you respond to those runs. The Wildcats came out in the second quarter much better than the first. They had a 10-5 run in the first 5 minutes. They shot 4-4 on this run and Alysa Jackon had 4 of the 10, to bring her total up to 9. SUNY Poly's fight was evident, but Oswego said, "Not so fast" and they went right back at them and started to pull away. It was a true team effort for the Lakers, they played solid team basketball, passed the ball well, rebounded and played physically. The Lakers were up 12 at half and coach Sean Pinkerton had to be happy going into the locker room after this finish to the first 20. 

Last game the Lakers lost the 3rd quarter by 5 to St. Lawrence. Last time out of the locker room was night and this time was day. The Lakers outscored the Wildcats 15-3 in the 3rd quarter this time around. SUNY Poly could not buy a bucket. They shot 0-11 from the field and their only points were from 3 free throws. Again, for Oswego, not one single person was the answer. It was a great display of team basketball. Up 49-25, Oswego can take a big breather and relax for the 4th quarter.

They say a relaxed and poised team is the best kind of team. Oswego was in fact very relaxed and poised and with that came stellar play. Oswego started the final quarter extending their lead to 25. With only over 4 minutes left in the game even a surge from the Wildcats would not be enough. The surge they did have was a good one at that. It ended as a 14-2 run but if math is a true concept, the Lakers finished this one with a huge on top margin. 

For Oswego, Iglesias was also the only double digit scorer and game's leading scorer with 15. Giavanna White-Principio had 8 points as well as 12 boards. 

WHATS NEXT 
Oswego continues the Max Ziel tournament tomorrow and looks to improve to 2-1. They will take on Amherst College at 4:00 PM in the tournament championship.  

Written by : Luke Belanger