On Friday, Feb. 6, the Lakers women’s basketball traveled to SUNY Canton and added another conference win under their belt, moving to 7-7 in SUNYAC play and sitting sixth in the standings.

Madison Guillory opened the game by drawing a foul and knocking down both free throws. Canton quickly answered with a free throw and a three-pointer to take the early lead, setting the tone for a back-and-forth first quarter. Guillory and transfer junior Sarah Hirschler helped steady the Lakers’ offense, trading baskets with the Kangaroos until Hirschler converted two free throws late in the quarter. That small spark gave Oswego the edge, as the Lakers closed the first quarter ahead 18-12.

Guillory struck first again in the second quarter with a layup to extend the lead to eight. Tight defense defined the quarter, but Canton’s Chelsie Tyler fueled a 5-point run to cut the lead to 22-19. Oswego responded immediately. Bri Weaver converted two layups, and Sydney Hoefs added a jumper to rebuild the lead. The Lakers controlled the tempo the rest of the half and entered the locker room up 36-29.

Canton refused to go away in the third quarter. Two three-pointers from Hope Aniceto trimmed the deficit to 39-37, but each time the Kangaroos threatened, Oswego answered. Guillory, Giavanna White-Principio and Weaver combined for a key stretch of baskets to push the lead back to nine. The Lakers maintained control and carried a 53-47 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter opened scoreless for nearly a minute before Weaver broke through with a jumper. Canton later sliced the lead to 59-56 with under four minutes to play, but a crucial Oswego layup and steady free-throw shooting in the closing seconds sealed the 65-58 victory.

The Lakers returned home on Feb. 10 for a non-league matchup with Houghton that turned into a back-and-forth battle from start to finish. Oswego jumped out to a quick 6-0 run before the Highlanders answered with six straight of their own. Hirschler sparked the offense with seven of the Lakers’ next 11 points, while Zhane Holmes and Hoefs added timely baskets to give Oswego a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

White-Principio and Weaver continued to provide offense in the second, but Houghton’s Samantha Roadruck helped keep the Highlanders within striking distance. Weaver closed the half strong and Oswego entered the break with a 39-31 lead.

The momentum shifted in the third quarter. Holmes helped extend the Lakers’ lead early, but Houghton erupted for a 10-0 run to tie the game at 48, the first tie since the opening tip. Oswego briefly regained control behind a Holmes basket and a Weaver three, but the Highlanders answered with an 11-0 run in under two minutes to flip the game and take a six-point lead heading into the fourth.

The final quarter was a scramble. Guillory, Quinn Pence and Juliette Huguet turned defense into offense to chip away at the deficit. Guillory’s free throw tied the game at 68, and after a key offensive rebound from White-Principio, the Lakers were within two points. With less than two seconds remaining, Holmes knocked down a clutch three-pointer to give Oswego a one-point lead. Houghton used a timeout to set up a final play and converted a last-second basket, escaping with a 75-74 win.

The Lakers return to action to take on Morrisville on Feb. 13 at the Max Ziel Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.