Fighting Tigers Battle, But Fall to No 8 Smith in NCAA First Round

                                                            Antonia May against Smith

NORTHAMPTON, MA – The Cobleskill women’s basketball team saw its historic season come to an end in a hard-fought battle, as the Fighting Tigers fell to nationally eighth-ranked Smith College, 69-59, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The game, hosted by Smith, marked Cobleskill’s first-ever appearance in the Big Dance. The Tigers conclude their remarkable campaign with a 24-5 record.

The Fighting Tigers were powered by their veteran core, which accounted for 53 of the team’s 59 points. Cara Walker (Phelps, NY/Midlakes) led the charge with 16 points, shooting 5-of-12 from the floor and knocking down 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Taylor Meacham (Berne, NY/Berne-Knox-Westerlo) capped off her outstanding career for Cobleskill with 15 points, two rebounds, and an assist while connecting on 6-of-16 from the field. Antonia May (Amsterdam, NY) flirted with a double-double, contributing 10 points, nine boards, and two assists, while Logan Thayne dominated the paint with nine points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.

The Pioneers’ efficient shooting was a difference-maker, as they connected on 47.5 percent of their shots compared to Cobleskill’s 38.9 percent. Though the Tigers had the upper hand at the free-throw line (75.0% to Smith’s 36.4%), Smith controlled the glass with a 33-27 rebounding advantage and spread the ball effectively with 14 assists to Cobleskill’s nine. The Tigers forced 12 turnovers while committing just nine, but Smith capitalized by converting those extra possessions into 17 points, compared to Cobleskill’s eight. In the paint, Smith edged out the Tigers 34-30, but Cobleskill battled back with 12 second-chance points to Smith’s four. The game featured six ties and ten lead changes, highlighting the intensity of the contest.

Smith got on the board first, but Cobleskill quickly responded with a 4-2 lead. A Meacham floater tied the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter, and senior Annie Canales (North Adams, MA/Hoosac Valley) buried a three-pointer to knot the score at 11-11 with three minutes to go. The Tigers refused to back down, ending the quarter on a 4-0 run to take a 14-13 advantage into the second frame.

The Pioneers opened the second quarter with a 6-3 spurt, but May answered with a deep triple to put Cobleskill back on top, 20-19, with 7:35 on the clock. The teams traded blows in a back-and-forth battle, but Smith found its rhythm late in the half, rattling off a 9-0 run to build a 30-22 lead. The Fighting Tigers clawed back behind Walker and Meacham, cutting the deficit to 32-26 at the break.

Thayne got the second half rolling with a putback bucket to bring the Tigers within four, but Smith responded with a 9-2 run to stretch their lead to 39-30. The Pioneers extended their cushion to double digits at 44-32 before Thayne halted the run with an and-one finish. May added a layup to fuel a Tigers’ surge, trimming the deficit to 49-42 with just over a minute left in the third, but Smith leaned on their home-court advantage to close the quarter with a 55-44 lead.

Cobleskill found itself trailing 60-48 early in the fourth before a nearly four-minute scoring drought set in for both squads. Meacham drilled a three-pointer with four minutes remaining to keep the Tigers’ hopes alive, but Smith had the answer, knocking down a dagger triple to push the lead to 67-55 with two minutes left. Despite the Fighting Tigers’ resilience, Smith held firm to secure the 69-59 victory.

Though the season comes to a close, Cobleskill’s historic run to the NCAA Tournament will be remembered as a defining moment for the program.