CORTLAND, N.Y. – The College at Brockport women's basketball team dropped a thrilling road matchup at SUNY Cortland on Saturday afternoon, falling 78-71 in overtime. The team rounds out the regular season with a 12-13 record overall, and 10-8 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play.
In the first half of play, Brockport was unable to hold the Red Dragon offense in check, as Cortland scored 45 points on nearly 60% shooting from the field. The Golden Eagles were able to stay within striking distance with their offensive output though, trailing by 11 at the break.
Cortland was able to hang on to their double-digit lead for most of the third, extending it to 14 after a Kristy Vitucci free throw with 3:50 remaining in the quarter. Brockport was able to stay just within striking distance however, as late three pointers from
Schyler Laux and
Bailey Pratt had them trailing by just 10 going into the final quarter of regulation.
Trailing by 13 with just 6:49 to play, the Golden Eagle offense came alive, closing out regulation on a 14-1 run which sent the game to overtime.
Freshman
Zaria McCullough got the run started, driving to the paint before getting fouled and sinking both of her free throw attempts. Fellow classmate
Julianna Taylor cut the lead to single digits with a layup moments later, before going on to score seven of the teams next nine points to close the gap to three.
With less than a minute to play in regulation, the Brockport defense got a stop, and
Lindsay Johnson grabbed a rebound with 0:24 seconds remaining. On the ensuing Brockport possession, McCullough caught the inbounds pass and handed the ball off to Laux who buried the clutch long-range three to tie the game, sending the teams to overtime.
Unfortunately for Brockport, the Red Dragons were able to regain the momentum in the five minute overtime period, outscoring the Golden Eagles 11-4 to hold on for the win.
For the second straight night, and ninth time this season, Johnson recorded a double-double. This time the senior scored a team-high 18 points while grabbing 15 rebounds, 13 of which came in the second half and overtime periods. Laux was second in the scoring column with 16, while McCullough chipped in 11 to go with her four assists and seven boards.
The women's basketball team will be the No. 5 seed in this week's SUNYAC Playoffs, and will travel to No. 4 New Paltz at 7 p.m. on Tuesday for a first round matchup. The winner of that game will square off with No. 1 seeded Geneseo on Friday in Geneseo, N.Y.
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