The Oswego State women’s basketball team is facing two must-win games to even have a chance at making the SUNYAC playoffs. They currently have an 8-15 overall record and a 5-11 conference record. They are two games behind the College at Brockport, who have a 7-9 conference record.
Even though chances are slim, Oswego State needs the following to happen. The College at Brockport needs to lose both games and SUNY Plattsburgh needs to lose 1 of their final 2 games. If those two things happen, and the Lakers win both games, they will make the SUNYAC playoffs as the sixth seed.
Head coach Tracy Bruno knows that this weekend the Lakers have to win both of their games against SUNY Geneseo and the College at Brockport, both on the road.
“They’re two must-win games,” Bruno said. “We had a big win last Friday night and sort of let one go on Saturday against Buffalo State, which put us in this must-win situation.”
Bruno figured that coming into the final four-game stretch of the season the Lakers would have to win at least three of the four games.
“Anytime you come down the stretch and you still have the opportunity to control your own destiny, I think you’re in a good spot,” Bruno said. “We have seniors who are playing with urgency as they come to the end of their careers.”
Throughout the season a team who is fighting for a playoff spot will often look back at a game or two that got away from them as the reason why they did not get in.
“We let some games get away from us for sure,” Bruno said. “We beat the top two teams in the conference and lost two to the two teams behind us in the standings.”
Teams who are on the cusp of a playoff spot have a tendency to scoreboard watch the other games and not focus on what they have to do, but Bruno doesn’t think that it will be an issue.
“I think we’re fortunate to be able to play on Friday and Saturday, so there is just not a lot of time, and we just have to go take care of business,” Bruno said.
Senior forward Heather Hebert has had an incredible senior season and Laker career. She reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career and Bruno would not downplay the ability she has to change a game.
“She’s an incredible player and she is an incredibly challenging matchup for a lot of teams,” Bruno said. “She is an undersized forward at 5’8’’. but she can score in multiple different ways.”
Hebert echoed what Bruno said that this weekend is a great opportunity for the Lakers to go out and take care of business.
“We’re really excited for this weekend and we know we have to win both games,” Hebert said. “If we win both of these games we have a good chance at getting in.”
Hebert knows that two wins does not guarantee a playoff spot for the Lakers, but it will not change the mindset of the team.
“I think regardless of that were going to go in playing our best and that we have a good shot,” Hebert said.
During the season Hebert reached the 1,000-point mark for her career at Oswego State. She described how the team is such a close bunch and that they are truly like a family.
“It was a great feeling and a great accomplishment,” Hebert said. “My team really supported me they all ran out on the court after the basket and I couldn’t done it without them, I really love all of them.”
Oswego State knows that a big opportunity is in front of them this weekend. It starts with taking care of business against SUNY Geneseo Friday night and the College at Brockport on Saturday night.
