FIGHTING TIGER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOPPLES SCC ROYALS 75-33

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s basketball team extended their current winning streak to seven games toppling the visiting Royals of Schenectady Community College by a 75-33 margin last night in Mountain Valley Conference play. The victory puts the Fighting Tigers season record at 19-2 on the year with a 10-1 mark versus Mountain Valley Conference competition. Cobleskill is currently ranked eighth in the current NJCAA Division III National Poll.

The Fighting Tigers decided the issue early on the strength of an opening 19-1 run right off the tip and never trailed in the contest hammering the Royal interior defense in the paint and pressuring the Schenectady perimeter players into multiple turnovers.

Cobleskill senior center Crystal Ferrer, Bronx, NY, Redemption Christian Academy, dominated the paint for the Fighting Tigers with 24 points, 12 rebounds and four steals to lead a very balanced Fighting Tiger attack. Freshman guard forward Kim Stahl, Scotia, NY, Scotia-Glenville High School, had 12 point for the Fighting Tigers on the night while freshman point guard Erinn  O’Rourke, South Glens Falls, NY, South Glens Falls High School, turned in a fine all-around effort with nine points, three assists, seven steals and six blocked shots.

The Fighting Tigers also received a solid effort from senior NJCAA All-American forward Dee Dee Smith, Monticello, NY, Redemption Christian Academy, with seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists and from freshman guard Haldryna Garcia, Queens, NY, St. John’s Prep, who tallied a career high of nine points to go with two assists on the evening.

“We made it a concerted effort to go inside tonight and get easy baskets and to go with that Crystal Ferrer had a great game in the paint for us,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Josh Suttles. “We’ve had some injuries lately but I think Erinn O’Rourke did a great job running the team and was exceptional defensively with seven steals and six blocked shots. This was a game we are supposed to win easily and we certainly accomplished that. Now this is the week everyone has been waiting for with Mohawk Valley coming to town on Tuesday night and us going to Fulton-Montgomery on Thursday night. This is the week that is going to tell us a lot about this team and where we are heading this year.”

The Fighting Tigers will next host the Hawks of Mohawk Valley Community College on Tuesday February 7th beginning at 6:00 PM. The Hawks are currently ranked third in the current NJCAA Division III National Poll with an 18-0 overall record.