Late Offensive Charge Propels Women’s Basketball To 72-64 Win

Late Offensive Charge Propels Women’s Basketball To 72-64 Win

COBLESKILL, N.Y. – Trailing by six points with only 5:27 remaining in regulation, the Wells College women's basketball team scored 19 of the game's next 24 points en route to a 72-64 victory over the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill on Tuesday at the Iorio Gymnasium. With the win, Wells is boosted to 12-7 overall on the year while moving to 7-3 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play. The Fighting Tigers drop to 5-14 overall on the year and to 3-8 within the league.

With four-straight victories, the Express have tied the all-time program record for longest winning streak. Last season, Wells posted four consecutive wins from Jan. 19, 2013 to Jan. 26, 2013. In addition, Wells has successfully evened the all-time series between the two schools at 4-4 with two victories against SUNY Cobleskill in 2013-14. The Express also picked up their first-ever road victory against the Fighting Tigers.

Senior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) racked up her 76th career double-double for Wells, scoring 21 points and adding 14 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. Her four blocks also led the team. Classmate Theresa Hernandez (Dewitt, N.Y.) scored 11 total points for the Express, adding eight total rebounds and a team-leading six assists. Sophomore Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) added 12 rebounds for Wells in the victory.

In a game that saw 18 total lead changes, the Express carried a 33-29 lead into the locker room following a hotly-contested first half of play. A three-point basket by junior Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) placed Wells up by a 29-27 margin with only 2:47 left in the opening half. Wells went on to outscore the host Fighting Tigers by a 6-to-2 stretch entering halftime and scored six-straight points in a minute and a half before a jumper by Tracee Schiebel ended the first half scoring for both sides.

The Express trailed by six points, 59-53, with 5:27 left in the second half before beginning their dramatic comeback. Achzet buried a jumper to shrink the deficit to four before Samantha Davis buried one-of-two foul shots to recreate a four point lead. Hernandez capitalized on the ensuing Express drive, burying a layup. The huge basket in the tilt came from Smythe, who bombed a three-pointer to tie the game at 60 aside with 3:56 remaining in the half.

From that point, Roser and Davis traded baskets before Wells scored the next five points via foul shots to take the lead for good. The Fighting Tigers saw a jumper by Schiebel with 57 seconds left in regulation, but Wells utilized back-to-back buckets from Roser before two foul shots with two seconds left from the senior captain iced the contest.

Cobleskill was led by Kady Porterfield's 22 total points – she added a team-leading 10 foul shots and as many rebounds in the contest. Shelby Preston chipped in with 18 points and 14 rebounds in the game while Davis added 12 points and seven rebounds. Schiebel added a team-leading four assists while Kaena Davenport posted three assists and three steals.

The Express return to action this Saturday, Feb. 8 as they travel to Chambersburg, Pa. to face-off against the Phoenix of Wilson College in a 1:00 p.m. contest.