Junior Alexa Amalbert (Nanuet/Nanuet) converted a layup with 35 seconds to go in regulation to break a 48-48 tie and then the defense held off a pair of last second shots, as the SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team defeated host Williams College to capture the Morin Memorial Classic.  The weekend sweep for the Red Dragons keeps them perfect in the early season at 3-0 while the Ephs fell to 1-1.
 
Senior Madeline Frank (Syracuse/Jamesville-Dewitt) led all scorers in the game with 18 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team.  Classmate Teresa Anken (Rome/Rome Free Academy) chipped in five points and earned the nod as the Most Valuable Player.
 
Oneonta fought off a second half comeback by Williams that saw them tie the score multiple times during the final minutes of the game.  The score was tied three times down the stretch including at 48 apiece on a basket by Lauren Vostal with 2:45 remaining.  Both teams missed jump shots on their next possessions before Oneonta earned multiple opportunities in the final 1:24 after grabbing three offensive rebounds setting up Amalbert's eventual winning basket.
 
The two teams battled closely throughout the first half until a late spurt by Oneonta earned them a 31-25 lead heading into halftime.  The Red Dragons held a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to six points from Frank and four points from junior Casey Hayes (New Hyde Park/Sewanhaka).
 
Williams bounced back in the third quarter outscoring the Red Dragons 14-8 to knot the score at 39 apiece entering the final quarter.  Five quick points for the Ephs was countered with five unanswered by Oneonta to bring the score to 44-44 with 6:13 to go in the contest.
 
Vostal scored 12 of the Ephs' points and added nine rebounds and two assists to the team. Sophomore Maggie Meehan (nine points) and junior Emily Peckham (14 rebounds) also came out strong for the Ephs.
 
Junior Olivia Allrich (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa) was in double figures once again for Oneonta scoring 12 points.
 
The Red Dragons will be at Utica College on Tuesday night beginning at 7pm.