The Panthers women's basketball team drew one of the toughest opponents for its season opener on Thursday, hosting #8-ranked Onondaga Community College. The visiting Lazers came out strong and ran away with an 83-55 final, dropping the Panthers to 0-1 overall and in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Onondaga improves to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the MSAC.

The Lazers jumped ahead 25-6 after the first quarter and extended the gap to 50-17 at the half. The Panthers outscored Onondaga in the second half, 38-33, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

Sophomore Amarionah Dixon (Elmira/Elmira H.S.) picked up where she left off in her freshman season, posting a double-double of 18 points and 21 rebounds. Beth ScabbyRobe (White Swan, Wash./Yakama Nation Tribal School) added 12 points and 5 rebounds in her collegiate debut, and Tatyanna George (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.) went for 9 rebounds and 6 points.

Looking ahead

The Panthers next play at Cayuga Community College on Saturday.