Box Score CAZENOVIA, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Lady Wildcats (12-2, 6-0 NEAC) continued their impressive run Wednesday, downing Cazenovia 66-52 for their 8th straight victory. SUNYIT has won 12 of its last 13 games, with the one loss coming to undefeated (16-0) University of Mary Washington, currently the 9th ranked team in the country.
It was a balanced scoring night for the Wildcats, who put four players in double-digits and one, Nailah Cherry (Roosevelt, N.Y. / Roosevelt) who almost made it with 9 points.
Despite the final, comfortable margin, SUNYIT led by just 5 at the half. After a Nailah Cherry jumpshot to start the second half, the Wildcats seemed poised to pull away. Yet, in a stretch explanatory of the two teams combined field goal percentage of 35.5%, neither team would register a point for the next five minutes of game time.
Abbey Hanehan (Stillwater, N.Y. / Stillwater) ended the drought at 15:29 with a made jumper, and high school teammate Kayla McNeil (Stillwater, N.Y. / Stillwater) followed it up a minute later to put SUNYIT up by nine, 39-30. McNeil had a great night, leading all scorers with 14 points on 7 of 16 shooting while tying for the team high with Hanehan at 8 rebounds apiece.
For the home Wildcats of Cazenovia, reserve Erin O'Malley led the way with a double-double: 12 points and 11 boards. For their part, Cazenovia did a good job on the glass as both Megan McDermott and Megan Pomarico grabbed 10 rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome a tough shooting night and 18 team turnovers.
SUNYIT will now head back down to Pennsylvania to square off with NEAC South Division power Lancaster Bible College (5-3 NEAC record). Game time is set for Friday, 8:00 pm.
