The SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team will begin the defense of its SUNYAC title on Tuesday night at home when they host Plattsburgh in the opening round of the conference tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children (6-12). Children five and under are free as well as students from any SUNYAC institution that present a valid college ID.
Oneonta (13-12) pulled out a dramatic 55-54 victory in overtime on Friday night at New Paltz, who won the regular season title. The win for the Red Dragons was its ninth in the last twelve games and earned them the No. 4 seed in the six-team tournament. A win against Plattsburgh will send Oneonta back to Plattsburgh to face the Hawks in the semifinals.
When Plattsburgh (14-11) lost to Oneonta, 56-52, on Feb. 1, the Cardinals were 5-7 in the conference and outside the tournament. The Cardinals took advantage of its home schedule and won its final five games to earn the No. 5 seed. Plattsburgh dropped both games to Oneonta this season.
Oneonta will be making its 22nd appearance in the SUNYAC tournament including its 20th straight. The Red Dragons are 22-18 all-time in the tournament and have captured three conference titles including last year's at Buffalo State. In last year's final, the Red Dragons defeated host Buffalo 50-41 to earn the automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament. Oneonta's previous two titles came in 1998 and 2001.
Oneonta has made 13 appearances in the semifinals including the last five years. The Red Dragons have played in six conference title games, winning three of them.
As has been the case during the
Daphne Thompson era, the Red Dragons have used a tenacious defense to hold opponents down. Oneonta is allowing 51 points per game while holding opponents to 31 percent shooting from the field. Oneonta has forced an astounding 515 turnovers while collecting 280 steals.
Offensively, Oneonta is scoring at a rate of 53 points per contest. Junior
Kristin Pappalardo (Mahopac/Lakeland), who is the only player in double figures at 10.8 ppg, leads them. Pappalardo also has a team high 68 assists while being second on the team with 61 steals. She has also made a team best 48 three-point baskets.
Classmates
Grace Schilling (Northport/Northport) and
Alyshia Crawford (Oxford/Oxford) are having their best seasons at Oneonta averaging 9.3 and 8.0 points per game respectively. Schilling is leading the team with 64 steals and is second with 58 assists. Crawford has been a standout during the final stretch of the regular season having scored in double figures in six of the final twelve games including 18 against New Paltz to lead Oneonta to its win.
Sophomore
Sarah Longto (Kingston/Kingston) and freshman
Lyteshia Price (Liverpool/Liverpool) have done most of the work on the boards averaging 6.8 and 7.0 rebounds per game respectively. Longto has also blocked 63 shots, which leads both the SUNYAC and Oneonta. Price is contributing 7.4 points per game to go with 37 steals.
The winner of Tuesday's game will play the 8pm game on Friday night versus New Paltz. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 4pm.
The NCAA Division III women's selection show is Monday, Feb. 25 at 2:30pm EST.
