Keuka Park, N.Y.:  In a game that could have potential North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) play-off ramifications; the SUNY Cobleskill women's basketball team fell to the host Wolves of Keuka College 56-54 on Saturday afternoon in league action. With the loss the Fighting Tigers move to 8-10 overall including a 3-6 record in league play while Keuka is now 8-8 with a 4-5 record versus NEAC action.

Cobleskill and Keuka battled it out for all 40 minutes of the game.  In a back and forth affair, both teams took turns sharing the lead at different times throughout the game.  The Tigers jumped out to a big first quarter lead over the Wolves, 16-6, credited to tough defense and an aggressive offense that saw them visiting the free throw line often (6-10 from the line).

The Tigers continued to put the pressure on Keuka and stretched their lead to 13 points, 25-12, after TyLysa Martinez (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) scored a layup with 5:50 left in the second.  However, Keuka's offense seemed to wake up and they outscored the Tigers 16-3 in the last 5 minutes and 31 seconds of the quarter.  Cold shooting from the Tigers and an offensive outburst from the hosts had Keuka up 30-29 heading into halftime.

After the half, Keuka opened with an 8-0 run in the first 3 minutes to push their lead to 9 points, 29-38.  Tigers continued to battle for the rest of the third quarter, but couldn't get in striking distance and trailed 38-46 entering the fourth quarter. 

Keuka attempted to push their lead to a position that Cobleskill wouldn't be able to comeback from and led 39-51 with 4:54 left in the game after Kaitlin Snipas made a layup for the hosts.  However, the Tigers are no strangers when it comes to battling themselves back into a game, and all they needed was an Anna Post (Bovina Center, N.Y./ Delaware Academy) jumper at the 4:43 mark to get them going.  The Tigers clawed themselves to within 2 points with 36 seconds left in the game after Post made a layup, which she was fouled on, and converted on her extra free throw for an "and 1" play.

Cobleskill attempted to cause a turnover to get the ball back, but had to resort to fouling instead, and Keuka made both free throws to extend the game to 51-55 with 21 second left.  The Tigers continued to fight, and with 6 seconds left Nylasia Sutton (Queens, N.Y./ Lansingburgh) pulled up from deep and scored with a defender in her face to make it a 1-point game, 54-55. 

The Tigers had to foul again, and Keuka didn't completely capitalize on the opportunity by only making 1 out of 2 free throws, giving the Tigers one last chance at the win with 5 seconds left.  However, due to great ball pressure from the Wolves, the Tigers couldn't get a shot off as the final whistle blew and fell 54-56.

Sutton led the Tigers with 15 points on 4 of 15 shooting.  Freshman Anna Post racked up another double/double on the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds (3 offensive).  Sophomore TyLysa Martinez posted 11 points and 7 rebounds, while freshman Megan Hughes (Warrensburg, N.Y./ Warrensburg) recorded a team-high 12 rebounds (10 defensive) and added 6 points in a starting role. 

As a team, the Fighting Tigers shot 31.6 % from the field and 20 % from 3-point range.  They saw better luck at the charity stripe, shooting 71.4 % from the free throw line.  They held an advantage in rebounding (45-40), but had 21 turnovers and only 5 assists which hurt their chances.   

Cobleskill will next be in action on Wednesday, February 5^th, when they return home to the Iorio Gymnasium for a NEAC meeting with The Express of Wells College with tip-off at 7:00 p.m.