Cooper, Ryan Lead Women's Basketball Past Cobleskill

COBLESKILL, N.Y. – Junior Ashida Cooper (Bensalem, Pa.) and freshman Carley Ryan (Middleburgh, N.Y.) each scored 18 points for the Wells College women's basketball team to lift the Express to a 73-62 victory over SUNY Cobleskill on Saturday. Wells moves to 5-4 overall on the year and to 2-1 within the North Eastern Athletic Conference. The Fighting Tigers fall to 2-5 and to 1-2 within the league.

Cooper filled the stat sheet after a dominant performance that saw her score 18 points while adding a career-high nine assists, eight rebounds and six steals. Off the bench, Ryan equaled Cooper's offensive output with 18 points while contributing with five takeaways of her own. Senior Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) scored 14 points in her 80th career appearance in a Wells uniform, passing Cassie Smythe '15 to rank fifth all-time in team history.

Wells posted the game's first four points as a quick layup from sophomore Kamarie Maturine (Brooklyn, N.Y.) set an early tone for the Express offense. SUNY Cobleskill, however, rallied to take a 21-20 lead after an Ashley Creighton three-point basket with 7:32 left in the first half. A clutch three-point basket from freshman Vielka Barber (Holly Springs, N.C.) propelled Wells into the lead shortly thereafter.

The Express would not trail again in the game, building a 40-29 lead with 7:18 remaining in the third quarter after a Cooper layup in the paint. A game-high 15 point lead was created for the Express as freshman Shelby Medovich (Harpursville, N.Y.) bombed a three-point basket in the fourth quarter, lifting Wells to a 63-48 lead with 7:26 left.

Creighton led the way for SUNY Cobleskill with 13 points while Cassie Semerad posted 11 of her own. Shelby Preston poured home 10 points with a team-high nine rebounds.

Wells hosts Medaille College this Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. to complete its 2015 slate of contests.