Panthers Women's Season Comes to Close with Playoff Loss

Madison Kelly (Darl Zehr Photography)
Madison Kelly (Darl Zehr Photography)

The Tompkins Cortland Community College women's basketball season came to a close Saturday with a 73-54 playoff loss to Genesee Community College. The Panthers, the #12 seed in the NJCAA Region 3 playoffs, ends the year with an overall record of 5-16. Genesee, the #5 seed, advances to the quarterfinal round with a record of 15-7.

Playing the Cougars for the third time this season, the Panthers kept the game close early. It was a two-point game just seconds before the first quarter ended, but the Cougars hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 18-13 at the first break. Things got away from the Panthers in the second quarter when the Cougars went on an 18-4 run to move ahead 38-19. The score was 41-22 at the half and 60-34 after the third quarter. A relatively even fourth made the final 73-54.

Madison Kelly (Moravia/Moravia H.S.) capped a stellar first year by posting her sixth double-double, matching her season-best of 24 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. She scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games this year, and led the team in scoring with an average of 15.2 points per game.

Karissa Wilbur (McGraw/McGraw H.S.) also ended an exceptional first season with a strong effort, scoring 16 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. She was the team's second-leading scorer this season, averaging 13.7 point per game.

Adrianna Royce (Newfield/Newfield H.S.) added 8 points and 7 rebounds, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor.