Jan 18, 2019
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Kristy Vitucci (Deer Park) scored 19 points, including seven during a 9-0 run during the second quarter that gave Cortland the lead for good, and the Red Dragons defeated visiting Potsdam, 66-56, in SUNYAC women's basketball action.
Vitucci made 4-of-8 attempts from 3-point range for Cortland (6-8, 2-6 SUNYAC). She also led the Red Dragons with four assists and shared the team lead with seven rebounds. Shannon McGuire (West Babylon) finished with 13 points, including 9-of-10 free throws, and added seven rebounds and three assists.
Shana Crespo (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) totaled eight points and six rebounds, Justine Crespo (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) and Tanna Mohammed (Huntington/Elwood-John H. Glenn) each scored seven points, and Alaina Lynch (Staten Island/Staten Island Tech) chipped in with six points, four rebounds and three assists.
Dyamon Hunter scored 14 points and had five rebounds and three assists and Devyn Elliott registered 13 points and 11 rebounds for Potsdam (5-9, 2-6 SUNYAC). Naya Walters also finished with a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The first half featured five ties and five lead changes. Cortland was up 16-14 after one quarter, and Potsdam held its final lead at 18-16 on a Hunter layup two minutes into the second period. With the score tied at 20, McGuire started the crucial run with a jumper at the 5:28 mark, followed less than a minute later by a Vitucci jumper. After two more minutes Vitucci hit a jumper and a 3-pointer and Cortland led 29-20, and the Red Dragons held a 29-22 halftime edge.
Potsdam got back within three late in the third period at 38-35 on a Leah Giavatto layup. A basket and two free throws by (Shana) Crespo and two foul shots from McGuire pushed the gap to nine after three quarters. The lead quickly grew to 12 on Vitucci's trey 50 seconds into the fourth, but Potsdam eventually was back within five at 59-54 on a Riley Luckie 3-pointer with 1:16 left.
Cortland turned the ball over but Potsdam missed a layup that could have created a one-possession margin. The Red Dragons salted the game away by hitting 7-of-8 free throws the rest of the way, including 4-for-4 accuracy by McGuire.
Cortland outscored Potsdam 19-7 on the foul line. Potsdam shot 37 percent from the field compared to the Red Dragons' 32 percent, although Cortland did connect on nine 3-pointers while the Bears hit five.
Cortland will host Plattsburgh Saturday at 1 p.m. – the start time has been moved up an hour in anticipation of a winter storm moving in Saturday afternoon.