Women’s Basketball Drops 85-58 Contest to Keystone

AURORA, N.Y. – The Giants of Keystone College were able to score 36 points of off Express turnovers as the Wells College women's basketball team posted an 85-58 loss Tuesday evening at the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing. With the loss, the Express fall to 1-1 in the early goings while the Giants improve to 2-1 following the non-conference contest.

The Express jumped out to the early 5-0 lead in the contest via a Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) layup, an Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) free throw and a Theresa Hernandez (Dewitt, N.Y.) layup. However, the Giants answered with nine straight points, helped along by two three point baskets by Tiana Cuttino. A Charlene Hook three pointer near the midpoint of the first half granted the Giants a nine point lead with 8:28 remaining in the first half. 

A jump shot by Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) and a layup by Roser with 2:59 remaining in the first half brought the Giants lead down to five points, but a three pointer by Alyssa Cuomo stymied any chance of an Express comeback in the opening half of the contest. A layup and two foul shots by the Giants built up a 10 point advantage entering halftime.

Extending the lead to 14 points just into the second half, an Erkson three point basket cut into the deficit as the Giants possessed a nine point lead, 43-34, with 14:42 remaining in the half. The Giants would not be slowed, however, using two three pointers from Cuomo at 11:44 and 10:03, respectively, to grant Keystone a commanding 18 point lead, 60-42.

In the second half, the Giants utilized four three pointers en route to 48 second half points. Cuttino's three pointer with 8:29 remaining in the second half created a 20 point lead for the Giants. Despite several attempts by the Express, including a Roser layup with 7:06 remaining in the second which cut the deficit to 15, the Giants kept the Express at arm's length and ultimately never relinquished a lead greater than 15 points.

Cumulatively, Roser led the Express with 24 points, burying 9-of-16 field goals and also scooping up a team-leading 20 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Erkson and freshman Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) each recorded nine point evenings, as Erkson poured home a team-best two three point baskets.

Keystone converted 10-of-26 opportunities from three point range, led by Hook who recorded a team-best 16 points off of the bench, including a 3-of-4 mark from three point range. Cuomo and Ashley Evans scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, off of the bench. In total, 55 of the Giants' 85 points were scored by their reserves.

The Express return to action Sunday, Nov. 25 as they host Elmira College in a 4:00 p.m. home contest at the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).