Santana’s Career-High 21 Leads Tigers to 83-56 Regular Season Finale Win at Lesley

CAMBRIDGE, MA – The SUNY Cobleskill women’s basketball team closed out the regular season in strong fashion, rolling past Lesley University 83-56 on Saturday evening in Cambridge. The Tigers put together a complete performance on both ends of the floor as they now shift their focus to the upcoming North Atlantic Conference postseason, marking the sixth straight season Cobleskill has earned a playoff berth.

First-year Isabella Santana (Walden, NY) delivered a breakout performance to lead Cobleskill, pouring in a career-high 21 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting night, including a blistering 4-of-5 from three-point range. Kyara Triblet (Colonie, NY) followed with 13 points, four rebounds, and two steals while shooting 4-of-5 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Zaylee Ramos (Worcester, MA) chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, and an assist on 5-of-8 shooting, while Kayleigh Bryant (Schenevus, NY) controlled the glass with a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with four points, three steals, and a block. Mady Victorin (Menands, NY) added six rebounds, three blocks, and three points in the win.

Cobleskill turned in one of its best offensive performances of the season, shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Tigers held Lesley to 33.9 percent shooting and 31.3 percent from three. Cobleskill also owned the glass with a 50-36 rebounding advantage, including a 19-12 edge on the offensive boards, which helped fuel a 21-6 advantage in second chance points. The Tigers dished out 15 assists, forced 17 turnovers that turned into 22 points, and received a major boost from their bench, which outscored Lesley 44-7.

Cobleskill wasted no time setting the tone, opening the game with quick baskets from Santana and Ramos to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Santana stayed hot early, scoring 10 of the Tigers’ first 12 points, including a pair of triples, as Cobleskill built a 12-6 advantage midway through the opening quarter. Lesley attempted to keep pace, but a jumper from Jaiyla Colon (Worcester, MA) and a three-pointer from Hannah Bonczkowski (Gilbertsville, NY) helped the Tigers create separation, taking a 23-13 lead after one.

The Tigers carried that momentum into the second quarter, using a 12-3 run to stretch the lead to 35-16 in the opening four minutes. Triblet fueled the surge with seven points during the run as Cobleskill continued to push the tempo. Bryant later knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Tigers their first 20-point lead at 43-23 with under two minutes remaining in the half. Cobleskill closed the half with strong execution at both ends, taking a commanding 46-24 lead into the break.

Cobleskill continued to control the game coming out of halftime. A Triblet jumper, assisted by Alyssa Martin (Castleton, NY), pushed the Tigers’ advantage to 58-30 midway through the third quarter. Bonczkowski added a triple and Martin finished a layup to keep the Tigers rolling, as Cobleskill entered the fourth quarter in control with a 66-42 lead.

In the final period, Ramos converted an and-one to give Cobleskill its first 30-point advantage at 73-43, and followed with another finish at the rim to extend the lead to 75-43 with six minutes remaining. Victorin added a putback and-one to maintain control, and Emilie Eritano (Madison Heights, MI) capped the strong road performance with a late three-pointer as the Tigers closed out the regular season with an 83-56 victory.