Canton, N.Y.: In a game with major North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play-off ramifications the SUNY Cobleskill women's basketball team came back from a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat the host Kangaroos of SUNY Canton 55-54 on Saturday afternoon in league action to close out the regular season. With the comeback win, the Fighting Tigers close the regular season with a 13-11 overall record including an 8-4 mark in conference play while the Kangaroos close the regular season with a 12-11 overall record with a 7-6 record in league play.

Trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, Cobleskill chipped away at the lead throughout the third and fourth quarters when sophomore forward Hannah Cater, Schoharie, N.Y., Schoharie High School, intercepted a pass at half court and went the length of the floor to score and give the visitors a 53-52 lead with 1:07 left in regulation.

After a Fighting Tiger defensive stand, the Kangaroos were forced to foul first year guard Annie Canales, North Adams, Mass., Hoosac High School, who converted a pair of free throws to increase the lead to 55-52 with 33 seconds remaining.
Over final 33 seconds the Kangaroos were able to hoist a pair of potential game tying three-point efforts that fell short but could only manage a lay-up with three-seconds left on the clock to make it 55-54. But that was as close as the home team could come as the Fighting Tigers protected the ball effectively to secure the important conference road win.   

Cobleskill displayed a balanced attack in the victory as Hannah Cater scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and pick-up a pair of steals while senior guard TyLysa Martinez, Coram, N.Y., Longwood High School, also tallied 11 points to go with six rebounds. Annie Canales also reached double figures in scoring with 10 points along with three rebounds in a reserve role.

The Orange & Black also received major contributions from sophomore center/forward Logan Thayne, Hoosic Falls, N.Y., Hoosic Falls High School, who scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots and from first year guard Keyara Maxwell, Middletown, N.Y., Middletown High School, who scored nine points, passed out three assists and took down four rebounds.

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Friday February 18 when they travel to Marcy, N.Y. to compete in the Western Division portion of the NAC Championship Tournament hosted by the Wildcats of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Cobleskill will once again face the SUNY Canton Kangaroos with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m.