The Tompkins Cortland Community College women's basketball team had a real chance for an upset of nationally ranked Jefferson Community College on Sunday, but in the end, the Cannoneers were able to seal a win at the foul line, topping the Panthers 65-58. Tompkins Cortland is now 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Jefferson, ranked #15 in the latest NJCAA national poll, is now 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the MSAC.

The Panthers opened up the scoring with a layup by Amarionah Dixon (Elmira/Elmira H.S.) and led by as many as seven points in the opening quarter. The first break came with the Panthers up 16-12, but Jefferson came out with a 14-4 run to take the lead early in the second quarter. The halftime arrived with the Cannoneers ahead 28-24.

Jefferson started to stretch the lead in the third before a technical foul allowed the Panthers to cut into the lead, pulling within one point at 36-35 with 3:05 left in the quarter. The Cannoneers regained the momentum by closing out the quarter on a 7-2 run, making the score 43-37 heading into the final quarter.

Karissa Wilbur (McGraw/McGraw H.S.) led the Panthers in scoring with 18 points. Simone Smith (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.) added 12 points. Dixon finished with nine points, 11 rebounds, and five steals. Lauren Gulini (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) chipped in with eight points, six rebounds, and three steals.

Looking ahead

The Panthers play SUNY Broome on Wednesday.