FIGHTING TIGER WOMEN OUT FLANK HERKIMER 58-47 IN OT IN MVC OPENER

Trailing Herkimer Community College by seven points with 3:35 remaining in regulation the SUNY Cobleskill women’s basketball team staged one of their famous comebacks in front of the home fans last night at the Iorio Gymnasium. The Fighting Tigers tied the contest at 49-49 on a driving lay-up by senior guard Tanisha McClinton, Poughkeepsie, NY, Poughkeepsie High School, with 34.6 seconds to play. After neither side could score in the remainder of regulation; the Fighting Tigers shut out the visiting Generals, in the overtime period to notch a 58-49 victory. The win improves the Cobleskill overall record to 2-0 on the season with a 1-0 record versus conference opponents.

In the overtime the Fighting Tiger senior class took over the action from the stunned Generals. Senior guard/forward Kim Stahl, Scotia, NY, Scotia-Glenville High School, hit a 16 foot jumpshot in transition off a pass from Tanisha McClinton, senior guard Erinn O’Rourke, South Glens Falls, NY, South Glens Falls High School, beat a group of weary Herkimer defenders down the court in transition to hit an uncontested lay-up, then senior power forward Kim McMillen, Greenville, NY, Greenville High School, scored on a post-up with 2:16 remaining to play and 40 seconds later rebounded and stuck back a McClinton airball to effectively put the game out of reach.

On the evening McMillen posted a double/double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while McClinton added 14 points and four rebounds for the Fighting Tigers. Erinn O’Rourke played a fine all-round game with nine points, five rebounds, two steals, two assists and two blocked shots while Kim Stahl chipped in 10 points and five rebounds on the night. Cobleskill also receive solid outings from freshman center Abby Wilcox, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, with four points, nine rebounds and a blocked shot, and from guard Meghan Smida, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, with five points.

The dramatic comeback victory left Fighting Tiger Head Coach Josh Suttles upbeat about his team’s effort and composure.

“I thought that we showed a lot of heart to come back against what I think is a very good basketball team tonight. We were able to create the tempo this evening slowing things down and speeding things up whenever we wanted too. I also thought we did a very good job during the comeback of staying together and keeping positive which led to a very big win. Individually Kim McMillen helped us out inside and Tanisha McClinton was able to dribble penetrate and create opportunities for herself and others down the stretch. Also Erinn O’Rourke was great defensively and held their scoring options pretty much in check tonight. Overall I really feel this was a very important win for us to get against, once again, what I consider to be a very good basketball team.”

The Fighting Tigers will next take to the road on Saturday November 11th when they travel to Corning, NY to meet the Red Barons of Corning Community College with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM.