Cobleskill, NY – The SUNY Cobleskill women's basketball team continued its home-court dominance on Saturday night, using a smothering first quarter to set the tone in a convincing 76-28 North Atlantic Conference victory over Lesley University inside the Iorio Gymnasium.
Mady Victorin (Menands, NY) continued her outstanding week with a career-high 19 points in just 14 minutes of action, adding seven rebounds and two blocks while shooting an efficient 9-of-11 from the field. Newcomer Kyara Triblet (Colonie, NY) turned in the best performance of her young Cobleskill career, scoring a career-high 14 points in 19 minutes to go along with seven rebounds, two steals and an assist while shooting 75 percent from the floor. First-year guard Kate Hadwen (Fair Haven, VT) filled the stat sheet with 12 points, five assists and a steal while connecting on 83.3 percent of her shots. Isabella Santana (Walden, NY) added seven points, while Hannah Bonczkowski (Gilbertsville, NY) played the role of facilitator, handing out a career-high six assists. On the glass, Kayleigh Bryant (Schenevus, NY) pulled down seven rebounds and Zaylee Ramos (Worcester, MA) added five, with both players contributing four points.
Cobleskill shot a season-best 46.5 percent from the field and paired it with a dominant defensive effort, holding Lesley to just 21.7 percent shooting and 10 percent from three. The Tigers controlled the boards, 48-32, which fueled a 50-16 advantage in the paint and a staggering 22-1 edge in second-chance points. Cobleskill's defensive pressure forced 29 turnovers that turned into 31 points, while the Tigers also held a commanding edge in ball movement and tempo, dishing out 20 assists and scoring 18 fastbreak points.
The Tigers wasted no time asserting control, holding Lesley scoreless until the 1:23 mark of the opening quarter while racing out to a 15-0 lead. Victorin sparked the early run with five points, including back-to-back finishes at the rim, while Bryant added four. A Hadwen three capped a strong opening frame as Cobleskill closed the first quarter with a 20-5 advantage.
Cobleskill continued to pour it on in the second quarter. A Victorin layup off a Kyra Pence (Randolph, NY) assist pushed the lead to 30-5, and Triblet found her rhythm late in the half, scoring six of the Tigers' final eight points to send Cobleskill into the locker room ahead 40-13.
The Tigers kept their foot on the gas in the third, as a Santana layup, a Bonczkowski jumper, and a Hadwen three stretched the lead to 57-22. Hadwen capped the quarter with a buzzer-beating jumper, giving Cobleskill a commanding 59-22 lead heading into the fourth.
Cobleskill opened the final period with its largest lead of the night at 69-24 following a fastbreak layup from Hadwen, assisted by Bonczkowski. The Tigers continued to control the game defensively, and baskets from Santana and Hadwen helped close out the 76-28 victory.
Up Next:
The Fighting Tigers return to action on Sunday afternoon, hosting Thomas College in a North Atlantic Conference matchup at 3:00 p.m. inside the Iorio Gymnasium.
