SUNY Canton Downs Women's Basketball, 62-59

SUNY Canton Downs Women's Basketball, 62-59

AURORA, N.Y. – Despite a team-high 16 points by junior Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.), the Wells College women's basketball team posted a 62-59 loss to SUNY Canton Sunday afternoon at the Farenthold Athletic Wing. With the loss, Wells drops to 2-6 overall while the Kangaroos improve to 2-9 on the year.

Wells launched a whopping 20 three-point attempts in Sunday's game, setting a single-contest record for long distance attempts. The Express fell only one three-pointer short of tying the all-time record, set against Morrisville St. on Dec. 3 of this season. Achzet's 16 points came via a 6-for-14 performance from the floor. Her eight rebounds and four steals were both team-leading marks.

Senior Kaitlynne Knapp (Port Byron, N.Y.) and classmate Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) each potted 12 points in the loss. Knapp's six blocks were a season-high mark while Smythe equaled her season-best total for treys, set originally against Morrisville St. on Dec. 3.

The Express trailed by as much as 12 in the second half, falling behind 59-47 with 5:03 left in regulation time following a jump shot by Caseylynn Fulton. The Express went on an impressive 10-to-2 run down the stretch, punctuated by a Knapp jumper with only 49 seconds left on the clock to cut the score to 61-57. Following a SUNY Canton turnover, the Express committed a turnover and a Fulton takeaway with 32 seconds left reduced the chances of a comeback.

A Knapp jumper with only 15 seconds left in the contest gave the team hope. Carrying the ball up the court, the Kangaroos committed their third turnover in the final 1:07 to grant Wells hope. Following a timeout, junior Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) launched a desperation three-point attempt to tie the game that was blocked by Brianna Sayer. The clock ran down without another shot by either team.

SUNY Canton captured a 32-26 lead at the half after shooting 11-for-29 (37.9%) in the opening 20 minutes. Wells was 5-for-11 from distance in the first half but only saw three other field goals fall into the basket, allowing the Kangaroos to build up a lead. In the second half, SUNY Canton narrowly outshot the Express (42.9%-to-41.7%) but the first half damage had been done and the Wells second-half scoring edge (33-to-30) was for naught.

The Kangaroos only utilized six players throughout the entire 40 minute affair. Fulton led the way with 21 total points while Karyss Terrance scored 12 of her own. Terrance also added five steals while Taylor Saltus assisted five of her team's 23 baskets.

The Express return to action Tuesday, Jan. 13 as they face-off against Cazenovia College in a 12 p.m. road contest.