The Oswego State Lakers women’s basketball team is looking to rebound this season after a tough season last year. The Lakers finished with a 7-18 overall record and 4-14 in conference play. They are looking to add a bunch of talent on this year’s squad, bringing on four freshmen.
For the fourth straight season, the Lakers will kick off their season home against Clarkson University, travelling to Potsdam, to play the Golden Knights at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14. The Lakers, however, follow up with an unfamiliar opponent, facing Alfred State for the first time in program history at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17.
Oswego State will then host a four-game home stand, including its home opener against Hilbert College at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 20. The home stand also includes the Lakers’ first conference game of the season, as they host SUNY Geneseo at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 30.
With the conclusion of their matchups at Max Ziel Gymnasium, the Lakers will continue SUNYAC play on the road. On Dec. 7, Oswego State travels to Buffalo State for a meeting with the Bengals. The next day, the Lakers pack up and hit the road to take on SUNY Fredonia with a 2 p.m. tipoff.
Oswego State will then stay on the road for some non-conference play, facing off against Alfred University at 1 p.m. on Dec. 15. Following the holiday break, the Lakers travel to SUNY Canton with a meeting with the Kangaroos on their road trip. Oswego State, who has defeated SUNY Canton in the teams’ past three matchups, will play SUNY Canton at 3 p.m. on Dec. 29.
Following the meeting with SUNY Canton, the Lakers will square off against Wells College at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5, which will be their final non-conference game of the season. Oswego State returns home to host New Paltz that same week, at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8.
After meetings with SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oneonta for some conference play, the Lakers will host four straight games with Plattsburgh State, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Fredonia and Buffalo State in Max Ziel Gymnasium for at the end of January.
Five of Oswego State’s seven remaining regular-season games will be on the road. The Lakers’ final home games will be against SUNY Cortland at 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 and SUNY Oneonta at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. Four days after that contest, Oswego State closes out the regular season at SUNY Geneseo taking on the Knights at 2 p.m.
If necessary, SUNYAC Championship play will open on Feb. 19 as the top six teams begin their journey to the conference title.
“We just want to establish our team, as we have a bunch of freshmen and transfers now entering this year’s squad,” head coach Sean Pinkerton said. “It is really tough that we only have practiced for two and a half weeks, and we’re still trying to learn each other’s identity.”
They are going to have to figure it out fast as possible, as they lost their star player, guard Courtney Ameele. Last year, the Palmyra, New York, native played in all 25 games, where she led the team and the SUNYAC conference with 14.8 points per game. She also dished out 62 assists along with her 115 boards. That earned her All-SUNYAC Second-Team Honors. She finished her career joining the 1,000 point club (1,064), becoming the 10th player to hit that mark in program history.
Pinkerton believes that some of the upperclassmen this year will be able to lead the charge for the incoming freshmen.
“I believe Rachel Windhausen and Quincy Zimmerman can lead the charge for our team heading into the season,” Pinkerton said. “They are both talented players and have experience with this program.”
Windhausen finished second for the team in the scoring department (251) and rebounds (208). Last year, the Liverpool native averaged 10 points per game, followed by Zimmerman, who averaged 7.3 points per game. That included a career high of 21 points back on Dec. 15, against Cazenovia College. Her three-point jumper is very aggressive, as she finished second with 32 made three-pointers.
Photo by Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian
