CORTLAND, N.Y. – Cortland outscored Oneonta 35-13 over the second and third quarters combined to overcome an early deficit and the Red Dragons' women's basketball team earned their eighth straight victory with a 58-42 triumph over the visiting Red Dragons.
Joleen Lusk (Cherry Valley/Cherry Valley-Springfield) led Cortland (10-2, 5-0 SUNYAC) with 17 points. She made 7-of-8 free throws, grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots.
Sam Dembinsky (Wallkill) tallied 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting,
Adriana Fontana (Endicott/Union-Endicott) scored eight points in her first collegiate start, and
Brooke Tillotson (Marathon) finished with seven points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Mariah Huss (Buffalo/Sacred Heart Academy) and
Abby Sheehan (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) handed out four and three assists, respectively.
Sarah Owen (Floral Park/Floral Park Memorial) scored all six of her points in the second quarter to help Cortland take the lead for good.
Oneonta (6-5, 1-3 SUNYAC) was paced by Addy Eckert with eight points and seven rebounds and Lidia Boucher with seven points. Megan Desrats finished with five assists.
Oneonta led 10-4 less than six minutes into the game and 15-12 after one quarter. Tillotson's layup with 8:26 left in the second gave Cortland an 18-17 lead and Owen followed with a layup to make it 20-17. Cortland's lead was at least seven twice in the quarter, and the Red Dragons lead 29-24 at halftime.
Cortland then took control by outscoring the guests 18-4 in the third quarter and limiting them to just 2-of-14 shooting from the field. Fontana scored six points and Lusk and Dembinsky four apiece during the period. Cortland led 47-28 entering the fourth and by at least 13 over the final 10 minutes.
Cortland held a 14-4 advantage in points off turnovers, as Oneonta gave away the ball 16 times, and a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points, fueled by 11 offensive rebounds. Cortland shot 45 percent from the field and Oneonta finished at 40 percent.
Cortland will host Buffalo State in league play Tuesday at 4 p.m.
