AUBURN - Caitlyn Dillard knows when the right time is to turn her game on.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Cayuga Community College's Corissa Quattrini, left, struggles to hold on to the ball as Tompkins-Cortland Community College's Katie Currier fouls her at Spartan Hall at CCC on Thursday.
Cayuga Community College's Corissa Quattrini, left, struggles to hold on to the ball as Tompkins-Cortland Community College's Katie Currier fouls her at Spartan Hall at CCC on Thursday.
“I just know when I'm not helping my team out,” she said.
The Cayuga Community College freshman took things into her own hands to start the second half off for the women's basketball team as the Spartans earned an impressive 81-56 win over Tompkins-Cortland Community College in the team's first conference game of the year on Thursday.
“Cait has had a huge impact on us this year,” Spartans coach Jim Alberici said. “She can drive to the basket and it's hard for teams to stop her.”
Dillard is the top scorer in the nation and led the Spartans with 29 points over the Panthers. She isn't the only force on the court for the Spartans, however, with Shakeema Green adding 18 points and four assists on the night. Corissa Quattrini finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“I can't do it by myself,” Dillard said. “I have confidence in my team and faith in them.”
The Spartans have just as much confidence in her as well. The Spartans were down 43-42 at the half and Dillard scored four unanswered points. The Spartans never looked back from there.
“We talked about the adjustments we needed to make coming out of the half,” Alberici said. “Our defense had to step up. Our conference play is going to be tough this year. I've always said the first five or six minutes of the second half are the most important - it sets the tone and we took over then.”
The Spartans' defense did just that as they held the Panthers offense to just 23 points in the second half. Tompkins-Cortland had started off the Mid-State Atlantic Conference season off well with a huge 77-31 win over Corning Community College.
“We knew coming into the game that they would have a lot of confidence,” Alberici said. “They shot well in the first half and I just told our girls to keep playing well.”
The Panthers were able to capitalize early off of second chances, while the Spartans weren't.
“We don't have that big girl that can pick up a lot of rebounds or that we can get her the ball to tip in,” Alberici said. “We have great athletes that can make plays with tips and steals.”
That was evident as Dillard, Quattrini and Green each had two steals. The first half of the game brought a total of six lead changes, but the second half had only one as the Spartans took over.
“The girls don't panic when they're down,” Alberici said. “They are confident with the fact that they can be down.”
Confidence is a major ingredient for good conference play and that is something the Spartans have. Whether they are down by eight or 10 points, their 3-point game can also get them right back into any contest. The Spartans made nine 3-pointers in the game and are just under 100 on the season so far. Quattrini and Green each hit a 3 early on to bring them back from a six-point deficit. That's when Green hit her back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to take a 27-24 lead.
“It's a great weapon to have if you can shoot it,” Alberici said. “It's a great equalizer.”
Cayuga (13-3 overall, 1-0 MSAC) hosts Onondaga Community College - who is ranked fourth in the nation - Saturday.
“They can shoot,” Dillard said. “We have to be in their face and force them to take shots they might not normally take.”
The Spartans hope not to repeat the last meeting with the Lazers in which they lost 93-72.
“They're a very good team,” Alberici said. “Our kids are up for the challenge and excited for the game.”
Spartans 81
Panthers 56
The Cayuga Community College freshman took things into her own hands to start the second half off for the women's basketball team as the Spartans earned an impressive 81-56 win over Tompkins-Cortland Community College in the team's first conference game of the year on Thursday.
“Cait has had a huge impact on us this year,” Spartans coach Jim Alberici said. “She can drive to the basket and it's hard for teams to stop her.”
Dillard is the top scorer in the nation and led the Spartans with 29 points over the Panthers. She isn't the only force on the court for the Spartans, however, with Shakeema Green adding 18 points and four assists on the night. Corissa Quattrini finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“I can't do it by myself,” Dillard said. “I have confidence in my team and faith in them.”
The Spartans have just as much confidence in her as well. The Spartans were down 43-42 at the half and Dillard scored four unanswered points. The Spartans never looked back from there.
“We talked about the adjustments we needed to make coming out of the half,” Alberici said. “Our defense had to step up. Our conference play is going to be tough this year. I've always said the first five or six minutes of the second half are the most important - it sets the tone and we took over then.”
The Spartans' defense did just that as they held the Panthers offense to just 23 points in the second half. Tompkins-Cortland had started off the Mid-State Atlantic Conference season off well with a huge 77-31 win over Corning Community College.
“We knew coming into the game that they would have a lot of confidence,” Alberici said. “They shot well in the first half and I just told our girls to keep playing well.”
The Panthers were able to capitalize early off of second chances, while the Spartans weren't.
“We don't have that big girl that can pick up a lot of rebounds or that we can get her the ball to tip in,” Alberici said. “We have great athletes that can make plays with tips and steals.”
That was evident as Dillard, Quattrini and Green each had two steals. The first half of the game brought a total of six lead changes, but the second half had only one as the Spartans took over.
“The girls don't panic when they're down,” Alberici said. “They are confident with the fact that they can be down.”
Confidence is a major ingredient for good conference play and that is something the Spartans have. Whether they are down by eight or 10 points, their 3-point game can also get them right back into any contest. The Spartans made nine 3-pointers in the game and are just under 100 on the season so far. Quattrini and Green each hit a 3 early on to bring them back from a six-point deficit. That's when Green hit her back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to take a 27-24 lead.
“It's a great weapon to have if you can shoot it,” Alberici said. “It's a great equalizer.”
Cayuga (13-3 overall, 1-0 MSAC) hosts Onondaga Community College - who is ranked fourth in the nation - Saturday.
“They can shoot,” Dillard said. “We have to be in their face and force them to take shots they might not normally take.”
The Spartans hope not to repeat the last meeting with the Lazers in which they lost 93-72.
“They're a very good team,” Alberici said. “Our kids are up for the challenge and excited for the game.”
Spartans 81
Panthers 56
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