ALFRED, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly Women's Basketball Team (3-5) made big plays late to overcome a halftime deficit on the road Thursday afternoon. The Wildcats finished off the comeback in overtime, defeating the Alfred State Pioneers (5-3) by a score of 69-67 to claim SUNY Poly's first win of 2015.
The Wildcats trailed the entire game. They finally tied it with just 1:43 to play in regulation, as a Molly MacLachlan (Marcellus, N.Y. / Marcellus) three-pointer knotted the score at 58-58.
The Wildcats gave back the lead on the very next possession, however, and by the 40 second mark they trailed 61-60. After a timeout Tierney McGlynn (Watervliet, N.Y. / Watervliet) missed a jumper, but forward Geena Gallo (Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa) grabbed the offensive rebound.
After another timeout, Gallo came through with a layup to give the Wildcats their first lead, 62-61. A Pioneer turnover led to two free throws for MacLachlan. The freshman made one of two – on the miss the Pioneers went the length of the court to tie the game, as Jen Fedrick's layup with five seconds remaining sent the game to OT.
SUNY Poly actually managed to get a decent look to end the game, getting Emily Alicea (Mohegan Lake, N.Y. / Lakeland) about a 15-footer that rattled in-and-out as time expired.
It didn't matter though. In overtime the Wildcats scored the first 6 points and were able to hold on from there to win 69-67.
Gallo led SUNY Poly with 19 points on 8 of 14 shooting. She was followed by MacLachlan who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Six of MacLachlan's boards came on the offensive glass, which was just fine as Lauren Knowles (Salisbury Mills, N.Y. / Washingtonville) took care of the defensive glass for the Wildcats. Knowles dominated the paint for SUNY Poly, recording her own double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds – all of 14 of which came on the defensive end. The junior forward also added a team-high 4 blocks.
The Wildcats might have ended things earlier if not for a brutally tough day from the free throw line. SUNY Poly connected on just 15 of 29 tries from the charity stripe, barely over 50% for the game. However, the 'Cats did the other things necessary to win an "ugly" game – play great defense and don't turn the ball over. SUNY Poly turned the Pioneers over 21 times while committing just 6 turnovers themselves.
As for the Pioneers, they were led by Haley Witchella's 20 points and 12 rebounds. Helena Covington also recorded a double-double, scoring 15 points to go along with her 13 rebounds.
SUNY Poly will get back to conference action next, as they hit the road to take on SUNY Cobleskill. That game is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14th at 5:00 pm.