Seniors Meagan Stover (Lake George, N.Y.) and Kari Kipper (Loudonville, N.Y.) scored 12 points each, but it would not be enough as the No. 3-seed Oswego State women's basketball team (18-9) bowed out of the State University of New York Athletic Conference Playoffs after a 67-51 semifinal loss to No. 2-seed Geneseo (20-6) Friday night, Feb. 22, at New Paltz.
The Lakers struggled from the field shooting 31.3 percent (21-for-67) and 22.2 percent (6-for-27) from beyond the arc, while the Blue Knights shot a blazing 52.9 percent (9-for-17) from three-point range and 49.1 percent (27-for-55) from the field.
Oswego State gained an early five-point lead in the opening minutes after back-to-back layups by Evelyn Josbena (Sr., Solvay, N.Y.) and Kipper. However, the Lakers only scored two points over the next ten minutes as Geneseo went on a 19-2 run to go ahead, 28-14, with 4:33 remaining in the half. Kassie Kleine (Sr., Cazenovia, N.Y.) found Stover down low for a layup to end the drought, but Oswego State still went into the locker room trailing 35-23.
Kipper opened the second half with a layup and a trey to cut the Laker deficit to seven. Following a quick 30-second Geneseo timeout, Allison McKenna scored four of her game-high 19 points to fuel a 10-2 run that spanned six minutes, as the Blue Knights stayed out in front, 45-30. Paula Egelston (Jr., Fultonville, N.Y.), then, drained a jumper and converted an old-fashioned three-point play to make the score 47-35. Oswego State pulled to within 12 points on a couple of different occasions, but drew no closer as Geneseo closed out the 67-51 win.
Jenn Robbins (Jr., Geneva, N.Y.) and Egelston contributed eight and seven points off the bench, respectively for the Lakers. In addition to McKenna's 19 points, Geneseo benefitted from 14 points and nine boards from Shannon McGinnis and nine points and 12 rebounds from Melissa Graham.
The Blue Knights will face the winner of New Paltz/Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC championship Saturday at 4 p.m.
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