To close out their home stretch, the 12-11 Oswego State women’s basketball team hosted the 14-2 SUNY Cortland Red Dragons at the Max Ziel Gymnasium on Feb. 11. After taking two conference losses the previous week, the Lakers looked to end their losing streak in a must win game to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Coming off a loss to the No. 1 seed SUNY New Paltz, the Red Dragons came out hot as they took a commanding 10-0 lead against the Lakers. Oswego State bounced back and finish the quarter on a 9-7 run to cut the lead to 17-9. Both teams struggled to connect from deep as they went a combined 2-11. 

After closing the first quarter strong, the Lakers carried their momentum into the second quarter and turned to sophomore guard Shania Iglesias who scored five unanswered points to cut the lead to three. Cortland adjusted to this push by Iglesias and the Lakers and began to knock down shots to get their lead back to double digits heading into halftime. Despite being down 30-18 at half, the Lakers outshot the Red Dragons in the second quarter from the field going 40% compared to 29%. At this point, only two free throws had been taken which were both missed by Oswego State. 

Halfway through the third quarter, Iglesias was able to get things rolling again as she scored another quick five points, but once again, the Red Dragons’ offense started to heat up. Cortland continued to fire from beyond the arc, draining 50% from deep compared to Oswego State’s 25%. Cortland would continue to push the pace, capitalizing on Laker turnovers. 

With six minutes left in the game Cortland’s defense shutout Oswego State and took a 74-37 win. This loss brings the Lakers all-time record to 8-60 against Cortland. The Red Dragons outperformed the Lakers on the stat sheet finishing with 42% shooting, 46 rebounds and 13 steals compared to Oswego State’s 29% shooting, 39 rebounds and five steals. The stats that played a big role in deciding this game was Cortland’s 27 points off 25 Laker turnovers. 

Iglesias led the team in points with 12 on 5-11 shooting while grabbing two rebounds and an assist. Sophomore forward Julia Logana dominated the glass grabbing eight rebounds along with her two points in just 18 minutes of playing time. 

The Lakers also celebrated Senior Day for Peyton Daeffler. In her last home game, senior Daeffler went 2-3 from the field to score five points. Junior guard Chastin Giles went 100% from the free throw while dropping four points and racking up seven rebounds. The bench helped the Lakers stay in the game for the first three quarters racking up 28 out of their 37 points. 

With the loss to Cortland they now sit in seventh place in the SUNYAC and have been eliminated from playoff contention.They will have two road games left with their next one being at 5:30 p.m., on Feb. 17 against SUNY Brockport. In their previous matchup Oswego State kept it close until the Golden Eagles pulled ahead late in the second half. They will look to bounce back and grab a win to help carry momentum into their final game against SUNY Fredonia.

Photo via: Oswego Athletics

Lakers senior guard, Peyton Daeffler (Middle), the only player honored during the senior day ceremony before game against  SUNY Cortland.