Cobleskill, NY: The SUNY Cobleskill women's basketball team defeated Tufts University 60-58 in a thrilling non-conference game on Saturday evening in the Iorio Gymnasium.

The big senior trio of Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls, NY), Cara Walker (Phelps, NY/Midlakes), and Antonia May (Amsterdam, NY) led the way for the Fighting Tigers. Thayne collected her 12th double-double of the season with 18 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and a block on 8-of-16 shooting. Walker was the Tigers' leading scorer with a game-high 19 points to go with her seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Walker connected on 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from the line. May added 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists while shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the line.

The Fighting Tigers shot an impressive 41.5% from the field, outpacing Tufts' 30.6%, and delivered under pressure at the free-throw line, sinking 85.7% (12-of-14) compared to Tufts' 66.7% (8-of-12). Cobleskill's relentless effort on the boards was a game-changer, as they out-rebounded Tufts 47-34, creating critical second-chance opportunities and powering their 32-30 edge in points in the paint. While Tufts capitalized on turnovers, the Fighting Tigers' superior shooting and physical presence in the paint carried the day, extending their winning streak in dramatic fashion.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 10-4 lead after a fastbreak layup by senior Taylor Meacham (Berne, NY/BKW) halfway through the first quarter. Cobleskill extended their lead to double figures when fellow senior Annie Canales (North Adams, Mass/Hoosac Valley) connected on a triple, assisted by May, to give Cobleskill a 19-9 lead. The Jumbos of Tufts mounted an 8-0 run to make it a two-point game, but Thayne scored a layup to give the Tigers a 21-17 lead after the first.

Cobleskill's defense turned up the pressure in the second quarter, helping the Tigers extend their lead by outscoring the visitors 14-9 in the period. Tufts opened the quarter with a 5-0 run to take a brief 22-21 lead, but Cobleskill quickly responded with a Walker layup to regain control. Walker and May combined to score all 14 points for the Tigers in the quarter, sending Cobleskill into halftime with a 35-26 advantage.

The Fighting Tigers came out strong in the third quarter, building their biggest lead of the game, 42-28, at the 7:27 mark. However, the offense cooled as Tufts' defense forced multiple turnovers, allowing the Jumbos to trim the lead to 46-41 by the end of the quarter.

The Tigers opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run to reclaim momentum, highlighted by a Walker layup that extended the lead to 52-41 at the 7:15 mark. As the game tightened in the final minutes, senior center Logan Thayne buried a clutch three-pointer to give Cobleskill a 59-52 edge with under two minutes to play. Tufts continued to battle, narrowing the gap to two points with 57 seconds remaining. With the game on the line, the Tigers' defense held firm, forcing a crucial stop with just four seconds left to seal the 60-58 victory.

The Fighting Tigers return to action on Monday, January 6, as they travel to Thomas College for a North Atlantic Conference matchup starting at 5:30 p.m.