The Oneonta State women’s basketball team will be going to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001 after defeating top-seeded Buffalo State in the championship game of the SUNYAC tournament 50-41.  Oneonta proved why it is one of the top defensive teams in Div. III and, in the end; it was this component that brought them a conference title.

“We executed our defensive game plan and rebounded today,” said coach Daphne Thompson.  It was a total team effort on the defensive end.  We had players that came off the bench and did the things that don’t show up in the box score that helped us earn a great win.  We outrebounded a more athletic team, which shows how this team believes in what we are doing.”

This was Oneonta’s sixth appearance all-time in the championship game and its second straight.  The Red Dragons were unsuccessful in its last two appearances in 2005 and last year, but today, they had the right formula for bringing home the trophy and earn the program’s third NCAA berth.  Oneonta secured one of the forty automatic berths that are awarded to conference champions.

The NCAA will announce the field of 64 teams on Monday afternoon beginning at 2:30pm EST.  The opening round of the tournament is this coming Friday at 16 sites around the country.  The national championship weekend is Mar. 16-17 in Holland, Mich. on the campus of Hope College.

The senior duo of Samantha Szkotak and Madison Slagle did what head coach Thompson thought they were capable when she recruited the two four years ago.  She thought they would be difference makers and they were exactly that today in leading the program to the top of the SUNYAC.

“We thought that Sam and Madison were capable of being blue chip players for us,” said Thompson.  “They are determined individuals who can lead by example.  They played in big games in High School and, when the game is on the line, they want the ball and they want to make the shot.  Those are the types of players you need in your program if you want to be successful.”

Thompson continued, “They are great leaders for us and they make the rest of the team, which is young, believe in what we are trying to accomplish.”

Both players recorded a double double today.  Szkotak, the tournament MVP, had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Slagle, an All-Tournament selection, added 10 points and 12 boards while holding Buffalo State’s leading scorer Staci McElroy to just seven points.  Sophomore guard Kristin Pappalardo was also named to the All-Tournament Team after registering 10 points in today’s game after scoring 15 points last night in the semifinals along with grabbing a team high 10 rebounds.

Oneonta (19-8) never trailed in the second half.  Buffalo State (25-3) did battle back to tie the score at 36 apiece on a pair of free throws by McElroy at the 10:49 mark.  The Red Dragons gained the lead for good with six unanswered points while not allowing the Bengals to score a field goal over the final 12:13 of the game.  Oneonta, who is No. 16 in Div. III if field goal percentage defense, clamped down and held Buffalo State to 21 percent in the game.

It was Szkotak who hit a layup at 6:52 that gave Oneonta its six-point bulge at 42-36.  Down the stretch she converted 4-of-4 from the line including the final points in the nine-point victory.

A couple of first half runs helped each team gain momentum at different points in the opening twenty minutes.  After Slagle got things started with a jumper, the Bengals countered with eight unanswered points en route to building an early 12-4 lead.  A pair of free throws by Bianca Smiley at 13:49 gave Buffalo State the largest lead by either team in the opening half.

Oneonta countered with a 10-0 run of its own to gain the lead back at 14-12.  The run was capped by a Gabi Regan layup at 8:10.

The score was tied twice during the final eight minutes of the first half, the last at 16 apiece before Slagle drained a three to give Oneonta the lead that they would build to 25-20 at the break.  Szkotak closed the half with a put back of her own miss as time ran out.  Szkotak had eight points and five rebounds at halftime.  The Red Dragons held a 26-15 advantage in the first half of the glass including a 10-6 edge on the offensive end.  Oneonta finished the game with 51 rebounds, one shy of its season high of 52 versus Cortland back on Feb. 11.

Newspaper Box Score
ONEONTA STATE 50, BUFFALO STATE 41

ONEONTA STATE (19-8)
SZKOTAK, Samantha 8-16 4-4 20; SLAGLE, Madison 3-11 3-4 10; PAPPALARDO, Kristin 3-7 3-4 10; REGAN, Gabi 2-7 0-0 4; CRAWFORD, Alyshia 1-1 0-0 3; LONGTO, Sarah 1-2 0-0 2; MULLIGAN, Kelly 0-4 1-2 1; SIMPRI, Vania 0-0 0-0 0; PONESSE, Kaitlyn 0-0 0-0 0; SCHILLING, Grace 0-2 0-0 0; WELYTOK, Ashley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-50 11-14 50.

BUFFALO STATE (25-3)
SMILEY, Bianca 2-14 10-16 14; KILISZEK, Barb 3-15 1-2 8; McELROY, Staci 2-12 3-4 7; CRAWFORD, Kala 2-5 0-0 5; SEBUHARARA, Divine 2-3 0-1 4; LUCIANI, Olivia 1-7 0-0 3; BOWMAN, Alicia 0-0 0-0 0; WALLACE, Ashley 0-0 0-2 0; BELL, Jazz 0-0 0-0 0; KOLLAR, Hillary 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-56 14-25 41.

3-point goals--Oneonta State 3-13 (CRAWFORD, Alyshia 1-1; PAPPALARDO, Kristin 1-4; SLAGLE, Madison 1-5; SZKOTAK, Samantha 0-3), Buffalo State 3-19 (KILISZEK, Barb 1-10; LUCIANI, Olivia 1-5; CRAWFORD, Kala 1-1; McELROY, Staci 0-3).
Fouled out--Oneonta State-None, Buffalo State-KILISZEK, Barb.
Rebounds--Oneonta State 51 (SLAGLE, Madison 12), Buffalo State 35 (SMILEY, Bianca 12).
Assists--Oneonta State 9 (MULLIGAN, Kelly 5), Buffalo State 4 (SEBUHARARA, Divine 2).
Total fouls--Oneonta State 16, Buffalo State 11.
Technical fouls--Oneonta State-None, Buffalo State-None.
A-290