Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's basketball team battled throughout four quarters on Tuesday night but ultimately fell 64–39 at home to the SUNY Canton Kangaroos. The Wildcats are now 2-2 on the season. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SUNY Poly came out firing, opening the game on a 9–0 run. Alysa Jackson knocked down the first bucket of the day with a jumper inside, and Jenna Kocieneda followed with a three to push the Wildcats ahead. Kayla Wilson added a transition layup assisted by Kocieneda, and the Wildcats' defensive pressure created early turnovers.

Canton responded midway through the quarter, capitalizing on a series of Poly miscues. Sierra Pabo and Hope Aniceto fueled the comeback with Aniceto converting a layup off a steal, then buried a three in transition to give the Kangaroos a 10–9 lead. Jackson briefly halted the run with an offensive rebound and finish, but a late basket by Jayda Pina helped Canton hold a 12–11 edge after an intense opening frame.

The second quarter belonged to Canton. The Kangaroos opened with back-to-back free throws from Kate Grainger before Jackson answered with two free throws of her own to cut the deficit to 14–13. But from there, Canton surged. Grainger hit a deep three, Natalie Bush added an inside finish, and Chelsie Tyler drilled another triple as the Kangaroos built a 22–13 advantage.

Amiyah Ferebee scored inside to momentarily stop the run, and Sanaa Lee added strong finishes in the paint, but Canton remained in control. A late layup by Grainger capped the quarter, sending SUNY Poly to halftime trailing 29–19.

Canton struck quickly to open the half, with Hope Aniceto knocking down a three to push the lead to 32–19. The Wildcats responded with energy as Jackson scored back-to-back layups in transition, cutting the deficit to 36–23 and then 36–26 after she stepped into a three moments later.

Lee continued to be a force inside, converting three buckets in the lane to keep the Wildcats' offense afloat. But Canton countered each push, hitting timely perimeter shots—including a Sierra Pabo three and a deep make from Bush—which stretched the lead to 44–30. Free throws from Grainger made it 45–31 entering the fourth.

Jackson opened the final quarter with a strong drive to make it 48–33, but that was as close as SUNY Poly could get. Canton's size and second-chance efforts repeatedly extended possessions, and Pabo knocked down a mid-range jumper to keep the Kangaroos firmly ahead.

Lee added another late bucket for the Wildcats, and Wilson hit a pair of free throws in the closing minutes, but Canton closed the game on a strong run fueled by Aniceto's outside shooting and transition finishing. A fastbreak layup from Grainger in the final minutes pushed the lead above 20, sealing the 64–39 final.

UP NEXT: 

The Wildcats will be back on home court for a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Clarkson University Golden Knights with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 P.M.