The SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team worked overtime to claim a season opening 58-55 win against Wellesley College tonight on the opening day of the Vassar College Tournament.  Sophomore Alexa Amalbert (Nanuet/Nanuet) converted one free throw and junior Madeline Frank (Syracuse/Jamesville-Dewitt) made the final two free throws with 21 seconds remaining in the contest.
 
Oneonta entered the fourth quarter trailing by one 40-39 after outscoring Wellesley 20-14 in the third quarter.  The Red Dragons fell further behind in the first six minutes of the final period 51-43 before making its comeback to force the extra period of play.
 
Sophomore Leanne Corso (Commack/Commack), who led Oneonta with 13 points, started the comeback with a layup at 3:45.  Corso also finished the comeback by burying a three-pointer with three seconds to go in regulation.  Classmate Alexa Amalbert (Nanuet/Nanuet) contributed four points for Oneonta in the final run.
 
After playing to an 11-11 tie in the opening quarter, Wellesley used a 15 point second quarter and took a 26-19 lead into halftime.  Sophomore Olivia Allrich (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) paced the Red Dragons with six points.
 
Oneonta's reserves came up big tonight outscoring Wellesley's bench 24-13 led by junior Madeline Frank (Syracuse/Jamesville-Dewitt), who scored 10 points and grabbed a game high 14 rebounds off the bench.
 
Oneonta shot 55 percent in the second half including 5-of-9 from behind the arc.  They also recorded 14 assists on 20 baskets led by junior Teresa Anken (Rome/Rome Free Academy)'s five dimes.
 
The victory tonight was a bit more special for Head Coach Daphne Thompson who collected her 400^th career win as a collegiate head coach.  Thompson, who is in her 26^th season overall and 11^th at Oneonta, has won more than 60 percent of her games during her career.
 
Oneonta will face host Vassar College tomorrow at 4pm in the championship game of the tournament.