In their second matchup of the season, the Lakers and Golden Eagles played a hard fought game from start to finish. After the opening tip, Brockport took an early 8-6 lead before the Lakers went on a 14-2 run. With 2:42 left in the first quarter, Oswego led 20-10. Danielle Caivana scored nine points in the quarter, shooting 3-3 from behind the arc. Heading into the second frame, Brockport stormed back to knot the game up at 20. However, eight points from Logan Castiglione helped the Lakers regain the lead and go into the half up 37-25. After a back-and-forth third quarter, Brockport brought the deficit to seven entering the final ten minutes. The Golden Eagles continued to fight down the stretch and pulled the game within two points with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Castiglione, who was great defensively in this game, came up with a clutch steal to maintain the Oswego lead with 30 seconds remaining. After some scrappy play, an Oswego foul put Brockport on the free throw line down just one point. The Golden Eagles nailed both free throws to take their first lead since the opening quarter. The Lakers got a last-second shot off in time, but it would fall short, giving Brockport the victory. Shania Iglesias finished the contest with 16 points while Caivana (15) and Castiglione (10) both scored double-digit points.
Before the tip-off of Saturday’s senior night game, Oswego celebrated Caivana and Encarnacion for their accomplishments with the team. Both teams exchanged a flurry of baskets throughout the first quarter, with Fredonia up 18-16 heading into the second. The Lakers quickly took their first lead of the game off a Diamond Pickett three-point shot. The Blue Devils and Lakers went shot-for-shot throughout the frame, with Fredonia escaping the the quarter up 32-27. To begin the second half, Fredonia went on a small scoring run. Though, Encarnacion scored two buckets and a free throw to bring the deficit to five. Despite Oswego’s persistence, Fredonia went into the final quarter with a nine point lead. The Lakers would bring the game within six points with 30 seconds remaining, but it was too little, too late for the home team. Diamond Pickett finished with her fifth double-double of the season, putting up 19 points, 16 boards, three assists, and three steals. Encarnacion and Caivana combined for 25 points in their final game as Lakers. With this win, the Blue Devils clinched the sixth and final playoff berth in the SUNYAC Championship.
Although it wasn’t the outcome the team was hoping for, the Lakers have a bright future lead by their young star athletes. Oswego saw major contributions from the likes of Catie Lilly, Chastin Giles, and Diamond Pickett throughout the course of the season and will look to build upon their performances from this season. The team will reload in the offseason and look towards the 2022-23 season, where they hope to make it back to the SUNYAC playoffs once again.
Image Provided By Will Rogers, WTOP 10 Photography Department
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