FIGHTING TIGERS HOLD OFF EXPRESS

COBLESKILL, N.Y. – The SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers held off a late rally by Wells College to earn the 49-43 victory in North Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Cobleskill, N.Y. With the loss the Express fall to 5-12 (3-6 NEAC), while the Fighting Tigers improve to 10-7 (7-3 NEAC).

Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Kappaa, Hawaii) led the Express with 16 points and six rebounds, while Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) paced the Express on the boards with 13 rebounds to go along with four points, four steals, and three assists.

Four straight points by Kristen Ryan (Syracuse, N.Y.) sparked Wells to an early 12-5 lead. A jumper by Brittany Britt and a 3-pointer from Chelcy Moore started a run of 14 straight points, giving Cobleskill a 19-12 lead with seven minutes to play. Ryan again led the Express to a lead, this time completing a 9-0 run with four straight points to give Wells a 21- 19 edge with 3:18 left to play in the first. The Fighting Tigers finished with four straight points to take a 23-21 lead into the break.

The Fighting Tigers continued to roll in the second half, stretching their lead to as many as 14-points (47-33) with five minutes to play. The Express pulled to within seven (47-40) and would climb to within five with nine seconds remaining. Despite holding the Fighting Tigers without a field goal over the final 5:04 of the game, the deficit would prove to be too large to overcome for Wells as Cobleskill held on for the six point victory.

The Express shot 32 percent from the floor and finished 1-9 from behind the arc. Each team finished with 39 rebounds.

Wells will look to bounce back  tomorrow  against NEAC rival SUNY IT at 3 p.m. in Utica, N.Y., while the Fighting Tigers will take on NEAC opponent Keuka College at 2 p.m. in Cobleskill, N.Y.