AUBURN - The Cayuga Community College women's basketball team had lost three straight games coming into Thursday's tilt with Tompkins-Cortland Community College. After 39 minutes of play, they were on the verge of losing another.
Cayuga Community College's Jenna Pinckney guards Tompkins-Cortland Community College's Stacy Skrivan as she looks for a teammate to throw it in to Thursday night at Spartan Hall. Jason Rearick / The Citizen
The Spartans let a 13-point second half lead slip away, and fell behind 64-63 on Panther Megan Orman's short jumper.
But with 13.4 seconds left, Falisha Cooley found Ronica Sharpsteen in the paint. Sharpsteen connected to give the Spartans a 65-64 win.
"They're a good basketball team, but I'm glad (Ronica) made that shot," said Cayuga coach Jim Alberici. "That would have been a devastating loss; it would've been our fourth in a row. To blow that kind of lead, when we played pretty well for most of the game - it was a pretty big win."
The Spartans had a 57-44 lead with 7:21 remaining, but turned the ball over seven times before time expired to let the Panthers get back in the game.
"We made some bad decisions with the basketball," Alberici said. "We didn't want to slow it down, but sometimes when you have a lead, you start playing not to lose instead of to win the game. I think that's what happened to us today."
Late in the second half, TC3 began chipping away with free throw shooting. The Panthers were 15-of-16 from the line in the second half, and shot 26-of-29 for the game.
"Even in the first half I think they had 10 points out of 22 (Cayuga led 31-22 at the break) from the foul line," said Alberici.
Jaclyn Sutton (25 points) cut the lead to five, 63-58, with a bucket and a free throw at the 2:25 mark. Cayuga lost the ball out of bounds, and allowed TC3 three shots before Orman was fouled on the fourth. She made both free throws to make it a two-point game.
Stacy Skrivan scored for the Panthers two possessions later. Skakimba Pierre (10 points) missed two foul shots on the Spartans' ensuing possession. The Panthers got the rebound, setting up Orman, a Southern Cayuga alum.
Cayuga got the ball pass TC3's press, and Cooley (14 points) was able to find Sharpsteen (six points) when the defense collapsed on her. Sharpsteen, from Moravia, made the shot with 3.2 seconds left.
Panther coach Brent Doane frantically tried to call a timeout to set up a play, but couldn't get one until there was only half of a second left. TC3 was able to inbound the ball, but Kimberly Colombo's (Port Byron) halfcourt shot fell well short of its mark.
"We didn't panic," said Cayuga coach Jim Alberici. "We came down and passed the ball around. We got the open person and put it in."
Cayuga (14-10, 5-5) hosts Onondaga on Saturday.
Staff writer Michelle Prego can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 258 or citizensports@lee.net
But with 13.4 seconds left, Falisha Cooley found Ronica Sharpsteen in the paint. Sharpsteen connected to give the Spartans a 65-64 win.
"They're a good basketball team, but I'm glad (Ronica) made that shot," said Cayuga coach Jim Alberici. "That would have been a devastating loss; it would've been our fourth in a row. To blow that kind of lead, when we played pretty well for most of the game - it was a pretty big win."
The Spartans had a 57-44 lead with 7:21 remaining, but turned the ball over seven times before time expired to let the Panthers get back in the game.
"We made some bad decisions with the basketball," Alberici said. "We didn't want to slow it down, but sometimes when you have a lead, you start playing not to lose instead of to win the game. I think that's what happened to us today."
Late in the second half, TC3 began chipping away with free throw shooting. The Panthers were 15-of-16 from the line in the second half, and shot 26-of-29 for the game.
"Even in the first half I think they had 10 points out of 22 (Cayuga led 31-22 at the break) from the foul line," said Alberici.
Jaclyn Sutton (25 points) cut the lead to five, 63-58, with a bucket and a free throw at the 2:25 mark. Cayuga lost the ball out of bounds, and allowed TC3 three shots before Orman was fouled on the fourth. She made both free throws to make it a two-point game.
Stacy Skrivan scored for the Panthers two possessions later. Skakimba Pierre (10 points) missed two foul shots on the Spartans' ensuing possession. The Panthers got the rebound, setting up Orman, a Southern Cayuga alum.
Cayuga got the ball pass TC3's press, and Cooley (14 points) was able to find Sharpsteen (six points) when the defense collapsed on her. Sharpsteen, from Moravia, made the shot with 3.2 seconds left.
Panther coach Brent Doane frantically tried to call a timeout to set up a play, but couldn't get one until there was only half of a second left. TC3 was able to inbound the ball, but Kimberly Colombo's (Port Byron) halfcourt shot fell well short of its mark.
"We didn't panic," said Cayuga coach Jim Alberici. "We came down and passed the ball around. We got the open person and put it in."
Cayuga (14-10, 5-5) hosts Onondaga on Saturday.
Staff writer Michelle Prego can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 258 or citizensports@lee.net
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