COBLESKILL WOMEN END REGULAR SEASON WITH 78-44WIN OVER HVCC

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s basketball team used a big second half to easily put away the visiting Vikings of Hudson Valley Community College by a 78-44 margin in Mountain Valley Conference play last night at the Iorio Gymnasium. The victory equals the Fighting Tiger program record for most wins in a single-season as the Orange & Black close the campaign with a 24-4 overall mark and take sole possession of second place in the Mountain Valley Conference standings with a 13-3 league record.

“This was a good way for us to close the regular season with our twenty-fourth win,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Josh Suttles. “In the second half we really turned up our defensive intensity which forced them away from their offensive strong points and after we had some early problems making shots our offensive execution was excellent. We are now excited about returning to the Region III Championship Tournament again and look forward to seeing this year’s tournament pairings.”

Senior forward Marie O’Malley, Oneonta, NY, Oneonta High School, came off the bench to lead the Fighting Tigers in scoring posting a 14 point, eight rebound, three assist effort while freshman guard Laura Tisinger, Gloversville, NY, Gloversville High School, also contributed off the pines with 13 points to go with a career high of eight assists on the evening. Also scoring in double figures for the Orange & Black were senior point guard Trista Thomas, Brooklyn, NY, Erasmus Hall High School, who scored 12 points, passed out six assists and made three steals and freshman center Shelley Pierson, Watervliet, NY, Watervliet High School, who hit for 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots.

Cobleskill continued to receive important contributions from freshman forward Sharee Daniels, Poughkeepsie, NY, F.D. Roosevelt High School, who scored eight points and hauled in six rebounds and from freshman point guard Nicole Garzon, Bayside, NY, Benjamin Cardozo High School, who scored eight points and made five steals in the contest in a reserve role.

The Fighting Tigers will await their NJCAA Region III Division III Tournament schedule from the tournament’s selection committee this weekend. Interested parties should consult the SUNY Cobleskill Athletic Website at: www.cobleskill.edu/Athletics/ or contact the athletic department at (518) 255-5127 weekdays between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM for tournament information.