Slow Start Does in Panthers Women on the Road

Taylor Day
Taylor Day

A slow start put the Tompkins Cortland Community College women's basketball team into a deep hole the Panthers weren't able to climb out of, losing at Jefferson Community College 74-65 Monday. The loss ends the Mid-State Athletic Conference regular season for the Panthers with a record of 7-5 in conference. The Panthers are now 9-9 overall with one non-conference game left before the playoffs. Jefferson is 8-3 in the MSAC and 14-6 overall.

The home team jumped out to a 24-12 lead in the first quarter and then held off the Panthers the rest of the way. Tompkins Cortland was able to chip away in the second half, but couldn't make it all the way back as foul trouble hampered the comeback effort. By the time the final horn sounded, one Panthers had fouled out and three others had four fouls.

Taylor Day (Brooktondale/Ithaca H.S.) led the Panthers with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Shantasia Jeffrey (Harlem/Curtis H.S.) poured in 18 points and 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists.

The Panthers close out the regular season Wednesday at North Country Community College before heading into the MSAC playoff tournament this weekend.