The SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team traveled north to Utica tonight and picked up its first win of the season, defeating the host Pioneers 69-54.  Four players scored in double figures for the Red Dragons, as they evened its record at 1-1.
 
Key factors for Oneonta tonight were 33 points off the bench and 34 points in the paint.  Freshman Tyra Harrison (Baldwin/Baldwin) and sophomore Cara Adams (Attleboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) both had 10 points off the bench for the Red Dragons.  Oneonta held a 39-33 rebounding advantage including 14 offensive rebounds.
 
Oneonta fell behind 9-0 in the first four minutes before beginning its climb back into the contest.  A layup by senior Sarah Longto (Kingston/Kingston) at 11:07 brought the Red Dragons even with the Pioneers at 12-12.  Longto would finish the game with 10 points and a team high nine boards to go with six blocks.
 
A three-pointer by Adams gave Oneonta the lead for good at 15-14.  The Red Dragons closed the opening half outscoring the Pioneers 20-12 capped by a three-pointer by sophomore Brianna Spector (Philadelphia, PA/Upper Dublin) with two seconds remaining to give Oneonta a 35-26 lead at the break.
 
Oneonta continued to build its lead and really put the game out of reach on a layup by Spector at 10:06 to give the Red Dragons an 18-point lead at 54-36.  Spector finished the game with nine points and five boards in 16 minutes off the bench.
 
Oneonta cruised over the final 10 minutes not allowing Utica to cut into its lead.  The Red Dragons shot 45 percent from the floor while holding the Pioneers to 30 percent shooting.
 
Junior point guard Caysea Cohen (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) was Oneonta's fourth player in double figures tonight, as she led the squad with 11 points.  Classmate Lyteshia Price (Liverpool/Liverpool) added nine points, five assists and four blocks.  Oneonta registered 12 blocks as a team in the game, which equaled its program record accomplished twice before.  The last time they recorded 12 blocks in a game was on Nov. 26, 2012 versus Utica.
 
Oneonta is in action again on Saturday when they play its opening game in the 2014 Holiday Inn Classic hosted at Hartwick College.  Their opponent on Saturday is Rensselaer scheduled for an 8pm tip-off.