Box Score Box Score

CORTLAND, N.Y.—The SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team went on the road tonight and came away with a big SUNYAC win against its rival Red Dragons of Cortland 78-70. The win for Oneonta (18-6/12-5) completed a season sweep of Cortland for the first time in recent memory during the regular season. Earlier this season, Oneonta defeated Cortland at home 80-72.

Leading four players in double figures in the victory was senior Rebecca Bucci (Marlboro, Our Lady of Lourdes), who scored 15 points. Bucci fell two points shy of her season high of 17 points, which came in the first meeting between the two squads. Bucci, along with sophomore Kate Wilverding (Manalapan, NJ, St. John Vianney), hit three, 3-point baskets as Oneonta hit a total of nine from long range in the game. Wilverding scored 11 points tonight, all coming in the first half when Oneonta took a 37-27 lead at the break.

Oneonta took the lead for on a Wilverding three-pointer at the 17:05 mark of the first half. The basket put Oneonta in the lead 7-6. Oneonta led by as many as 14 points in the first half when a jumper by junior Samantha Szkotak (New York Mills, New York Mills) put them ahead 34-20 with 2:43 left in the opening half. Szkotak finished the contest with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Cortland (17-5/12-4) wouldn't go easily as they battled back to tie the game at 50 apiece on a pair of free throws by Micki Volpini that capped a 9-0 run by the rival Red Dragons.

With the game tied at 54, Bucci drilled a three-pointer that jump started a 13-2 run that put the game out of reach for Cortland.

The loss for Cortland was only its seventh regular season home conference loss since 1998 when head coach Jeanette Mosher took over the program.

Freshman point guard Grace Schilling (Northport, Northport) rounded out Oneonta's double digit scorers with 10 points.

Cortland was led by Brittany Cohen's 22 points.

Oneonta has already clinched a home game for the quarterfinals of the SUNYAC tournament, which will begin next Tuesday night. Oneonta will play its final game against second place New Paltz at home on Friday beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Newspaper Box Score
ONEONTA STATE 78, SUNY CORTLAND 70

ONEONTA STATE (18-6/12-5 SUNYAC)
BUCCI, Rebecca 4-7 4-4 15; WILVERDING, Kate 3-9 2-2 11; SZKOTAK, Samantha 5-10 0-0 10; SCHILLING, Grace 4-8 2-2 10; SLAGLE, Madison 3-9 2-2 9; O'CONNELL, Mary Kate 2-2 4-4 8; MULLIGAN, Kelly 2-3 0-0 5; REGAN, Gabi 0-3
5-6 5; PAPPALARDO, Kristin 1-1 0-0 3; PUFFER, Erika 1-5 0-0 2; RUFER, Lisa 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-58 19-20 78.

SUNY CORTLAND (17-5/12-4 SUNYAC)
COHEN, Brittany 5-15 8-8 22; PATTEN, Jennifer 3-11 6-7 13; BRUNS, Mary 5-6 1-1 11; VOLPINI, Micki 3-8 3-4 9; BYRNE, Molly 2-12 3-4 7; CRARY, Caryn 2-4 1-2 6; MAYCUMBER, Megan 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 21-57 22-26 70.

3-point goals--Oneonta State 9-27 (BUCCI, Rebecca 3-6; WILVERDING, Kate 3-8; PAPPALARDO, Kristin 1-1; SLAGLE, Madison 1-5; MULLIGAN, Kelly 1-2; RUFER, Lisa 0-1; REGAN, Gabi 0-2; SZKOTAK, Samantha 0-2), SUNY Cortland 6-27 (COHEN, Brittany 4-10; PATTEN, Jennifer 1-6; CRARY, Caryn 1-2; BYRNE, Molly 0-7; VOLPINI, Micki 0-2).

Fouled out--Oneonta State-None, SUNY Cortland-None.

Rebounds--Oneonta State 37 (SZKOTAK, Samantha 10), SUNY Cortland 31 (CRARY, Caryn 10).

Assists--Oneonta State 17 (BUCCI, Rebecca 4), SUNY Cortland 14 (COHEN, Brittany 7).

Total fouls--Oneonta State 20, SUNY Cortland 16.

Technical fouls--Oneonta State-None, SUNY Cortland-None.

A-150