Nov 15, 2019
PURCHASE, N.Y. – Beth Bonin (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse) scored 20 of her game-high 23 points in the first half and Cortland turned in its best scoring defensive effort in nearly five years as the Red Dragons defeated host Purchase College, 67-35, in a non-league matchup.
The 35 points are the fewest allowed by Cortland since a 60-34 win at Elmira in January 2015. Cortland's defense led to 26 turnovers by the Panthers, including 17 Red Dragon steals.
Bonin made 8-of-14 shots from the floor overall and 6-of-10 from 3-point range. She added three assists and three steals. Sarah Tully (East Aurora) finished with eight points, two blocks and two steals and Casey Travers (Manorville/Eastport-South Manor) and Flo Hunte (Elmont/Sewanhaka) each scored seven points.
Shannon McGuire (West Babylon) led Cortland (2-0) with eight assists and five steals and also hauled in seven rebounds. Julia Siler (Seaford) grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench and Nyia Longford (Medford/Longwood) finished with six points and six rebounds.
Arta Krasniqi totaled 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals for Purchase, which was playing its season opener. Shadai Plowden tallied six points and grabbed five rebounds. Dejeana Peoples and Alfa DeJesus shared the team lead with seven rebounds.
Cortland scored the last eight points of the first quarter, five by Bonin, to extend a 12-8 lead to 20-8. The Red Dragons led 36-14 with three minutes left in the half and took a 36-17 advantage into the locker room at halftime. The margin grew to 30 points, 51-21, after three quarters and was at least 27 the rest of the way.
Cortland returns to action with a non-league game at Ithaca on Tuesday at 7 p.m.