Posted: Feb 25, 2025
Determined Spartans Earn Road Playoff Win
Cayuga Community College
62
Corning Community College
53
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cayuga Community College | 13 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 62 |
|
Corning Community College | 17 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 53 |
A stellar third quarter and a tenacious performance in the fourth gave Cayuga Community College Women's Basketball a road playoff win over Corning Community College on Tuesday.
In a gritty back-and-forth contest with the 8th-seeded Red Barons, the 9th-seeded Spartans overcame a first quarter deficit to take a 62-53 win in the subregional playoff round. Cayuga advances to face Onondaga Community College, the top seed in the Region III playoffs.
Cayuga Coach Jim Alberici praised his team's performance, particularly how they ended the game on a 15-3 run after losing a fourth-quarter lead.
"This was two teams playing really, really hard. I told the team at halftime, this is what playoff basketball is like. You have to earn the next practice and the next game. Neither team wants to hand in their uniform at the end of the game," he said. "To close out the game on that run, and to keep fighting like we did, I couldn't be prouder of this team."
The game was close from the tipoff, with the Red Barons holding a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Cayuga took a brief lead in the second on a Haley Mosch three-pointer, but Corning responded with consecutive three-pointers to retake the lead. Cayuga fought back to tie the game at 23 and then again at 29, but trailed 30-29 at halftime.
Cayuga burst out of halftime to take the lead, with baskets from Mosch, Xavia Evener and Jada Smith powering an 11-3 run. The Spartans led by five entering the fourth quarter but struggled against Corning's pressure defense. The Red Barons took the lead, but free throws by Mosch and a jumper from Evener put Cayuga back in front. Free throws by Lexi Alberici in the final minutes ensured the win for the Spartans.
Mosch led the Spartans with 27 points and finished with 10 rebounds and three steals. Evener had 17 points and 21 rebounds, and Alberici had 12 points and three assists.
The Spartans' game against Onondaga is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday. The remaining playoff games will all be played at host site Jefferson Community College.