Posted: Feb 05, 2020

Cannoneers beat Cayuga in MSAC Contest

Jania Freeman, center, led Cayuga with 15 points in the Spartans' home loss to Finger Lakes Community College.

Offensive struggles hurt the Cayuga Community College Women's Basketball Team on Wednesday as the team lost at home to Jefferson Community College.

Playing the defending Mid-State Athletic Conference Tournament champions, Cayuga fell behind early and couldn't catch the Cannoneers (11-7, 7-1), losing 68-51. The loss drops Cayuga to 7-12 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

Jefferson started the first quarter on an 8-0 run, but the Spartans rebounded to play even with the Cannoneers for the rest of the first stanza and trailed 21-11 going into the second quarter. Cayuga struggled offensively in the second quarter, though, and trailed 37-15 going into halftime.

The teams played even basketball in the last two quarters, but Cayuga wasn't able to cut the lead to fewer than 15 points.

"We didn't come out with the energy we needed in the first half," said Cayuga Coach Jim Alberici. "It was good to see us play better in the second half, but you can't spot good teams a 20-point lead."

Gretchen Earl led Cayuga with 16 points and added six rebounds. Fatimaah Findley had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Jania Freeman had 13 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

The Spartans will travel to SUNY Broome (7-13, 3-4) on Saturday, Feb. 8, to play the Hornets. Cayuga defeated Broome 51-45 earlier this season. Tip-off is 1 p.m.