ONEONTA, N.Y.—The SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team had four players in double figures as they defeated its rival Red Dragons from SUNY Cortland 80-72 in SUNYAC action this evening in front of 1,000 fans in the Dewar Arena. Junior Samantha Szkotak (New York Mills, New York Mills) scored 18 of her team high 20 points in the second half leading Oneonta (13-3/7-2) to a big second half where the team shot 55 percent from the floor and scored 49 points.

Oneonta found themselves down 38-31 early in the second half before tying the score at 39 apiece at the 17:12 mark on a three-pointer by junior Madison Slagle (Rome, Rome Catholic). Slagle scored nine points in the second half, all from behind the arc, to finish the game with 14 points.

Back-to-back three-point baskets by Brittany Cohen and Jennifer Patten capped a quick 8-3 spurt for Cortland (11-4/6-3) to give them the lead back at 47-42 at the 15:04 mark.

Oneonta seized control of the game during the next ten minutes, out scoring Cortland 25-9 to take a commanding lead of 67-56. Szkotak and seniors Erika Puffer (Unadilla, Unatego) and Mary Kate O'Connell (Altamont, Guilderland) led the outburst that gave Oneonta the biggest lead for either team in the game.

Cortland wouldn't go quietly as they mounted one final comeback that saw them cut the hosts' lead to two points at 67-65 with 3:19 remaining in the game. Senior Jen Polan led the charge for Cortland. Polan finished the contest with a game high 22 points including 6-of-7 from behind the arc.

Oneonta regained its composure and steadily pulled away from Cortland down the stretch. Three baskets by Szkotak and four free throws by senior Rebecca Bucci (Marlboro, Our Lady of Lourdes) help secure the win, which was the first time since the 2004-05 season that Oneonta had defeated Cortland, a stretch of 11 games.

Bucci finished the game with 17 points and seven rebounds. Puffer scored 10 points in the game including eight points after halftime.

Cortland jumped out quickly scoring the first seven points of the game. Junior Molly Byrne had four points to lead Cortland.

Oneonta settled in after Puffer got them on the board with a pair of free throws. The hosts continued to pick away at the Cortland lead and finally tied the score 10 apiece on a three-pointer by sophomore Kate Wilverding (Manalapan, NJ, St. John Vianney).

Cortland regained the lead and built it back to eight points at 27-19 on a three-pointer by junior Micki Volpini at the 6:25 mark.

Oneonta made another run at its rival and, a lay up by freshman Grace Schilling (Northport, Northport), gave Oneonta its first lead at 31-30 with 2:06 left in the opening half.

Cortland scored five unanswered to close the half and take a 35-31 lead into halftime. Cortland hit 8-of-15 from long range for 24 of its 35 first half points.

Oneonta will be at home again this Friday night against Plattsburgh beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Newspaper Box Score
ONEONTA STATE 80, CORTLAND 72

CORTLAND (11-4/6-3)
POLAN, Jen 6-7 4-4 22; COHEN, Brittany 6-16 1-2 17; BYRNE, Molly 3-10 4-4 10; PATTEN, Jennifer 2-8 2-2 8; VOLPINI, Micki 1-4 3-4 6; CRARY, Caryn 2-4 0-0 5; BRUNS, Mary 2-3 0-0 4; COLLIS, Jen 0-0 0-0 0; MAYCUMBER, Megan 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 14-16 72.

ONEONTA STATE (13-3/7-2)
SZKOTAK, Samantha 8-18 4-6 20; BUCCI, Rebecca 4-7 6-8 17; SLAGLE, Madison 5-12 1-2 14; PUFFER, Erika 3-7 4-4 10; O'CONNELL, Mary Kate 3-5 1-1 7; SCHILLING, Grace 3-4 0-0 6; PAPPALARDO, Kristin 0-0 3-4 3; WILVERDING, Kate 1-4 0-0 3; MULLIGAN, Kelly 0-0 0-0 0; REGAN, Gabi 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 27-60 19-25 80.

3-point goals--Cortland 14-33 (POLAN, Jen 6-7; COHEN, Brittany 4-10; PATTEN, Jennifer 2-5; CRARY, Caryn 1-2; VOLPINI, Micki 1-3; BYRNE, Molly 0-6), Oneonta State 7-21 (SLAGLE, Madison 3-9; BUCCI, Rebecca 3-6; WILVERDING, Kate 1-4; SZKOTAK, Samantha 0-2).

Fouled out--Cortland-None, Oneonta State-None.

Rebounds--Cortland 30 (BYRNE, Molly 5; VOLPINI, Micki 5), Oneonta State 41 (BUCCI, Rebecca 7; SZKOTAK, Samantha 7; SLAGLE, Madison 7).

Assists--Cortland 16 (COHEN, Brittany 6), Oneonta State 15 (BUCCI, Rebecca 4).

Total fouls--Cortland 15, Oneonta State 15.

Technical fouls--Cortland-None, Oneonta State-None.

A-1018