The Oswego State women’s basketball team took two crucial SUNYAC wins last weekend, earning an overtime win on the road against SUNY Fredonia before dominating Buffalo State University back at home.

On Friday, Feb. 20, the Lakers traveled to Fredonia for a conference matchup that turned into a back-and-forth overtime battle from start to finish.

The Lakers found their fire early as the game opened with two three-pointers from junior Sarah Hirschler. The Lakers settled in midway through the first quarter, with Zhane Holmes and Giavanna White-Principio attacking inside to keep the game within reach. Despite the slow start, Oswego had the lead, 13-8, after one quarter.

The second quarter flipped the momentum. Payton Gilbert and Jakeira Stackhouse of the Blue Devils established a strong presence in the paint, while Grace Alexander and Jayssa Snelick helped force turnovers that led to transition opportunities. A steady stretch at the free-throw line allowed Fredonia to tie it at 28-28 going into halftime.

Oswego responded in the third quarter, using balanced scoring to reclaim the advantage and push its lead to as many as eight. Holmes continued to pace the Lakers offensively, and White-Principio controlled the glass to limit second-chance points. Fredonia trailed 48-41 entering the final quarter.

The fourth quarter delivered the drama. Stackhouse sparked a rally with aggressive drives to the rim, and Alexander knocked down two clutch three-pointers in the final two minutes to trim the deficit. With seconds remaining and Oswego trailing by three, Alexander buried a deep three at the buzzer to tie the game at 64 and force overtime.

The extra period of play was a nail-biter. Gilbert scored inside to give Fredonia its first lead since the second quarter, and the defense came up with key stops down the stretch. After Fredonia briefly tied the game, Sydney Hoefs converted a late basket and free throw to seal the 71-67 overtime victory. Holmes led the way with 23 points, while White-Principio added 12 points and dominated the boards with 17 rebounds. The win moved Oswego to 9-9 in SUNYAC play.

Less than 24 hours later, the Lakers returned home for Senior Day against Buffalo State and delivered one of their most complete performances of the season.

The first quarter was tight, ending in a 14-14 tie, but Oswego erupted in the second. Holmes caught fire from beyond the arc, Hirschler added a pair of threes and White-Principio controlled the paint. A 24-point second quarter gave the Lakers a commanding 38-22 halftime lead.

The defensive intensity carried into the third quarter. Oswego held Buffalo State to just five points in the quarter while continuing to push the pace in transition. By the end of quarter three, the Lakers had stretched the lead to 52-27.

With the game in hand, Senior Day became a celebration. The bench contributed 27 points, including strong minutes from Delaney Wiley and Emily Hayden, as Oswego cruised to a 74-43 victory. Holmes poured in 26 points to lead all scorers, while White-Principio recorded another double-digit rebounding performance with 15 boards. The Lakers shot over 43% from the field and forced 16 turnovers in the win.

The Oswego State Lakers women’s basketball saw its season come to a close in the SUNYAC quarterfinals on Feb. 24, falling 48-38 to the Plattsburgh State Cardinals on the road at Memorial Hall.

Oswego opened with energy, taking a 14-12 lead after the first quarter behind early baskets from Hirschler and Bri Weaver. The defensive intensity continued into the third, where the Lakers held Plattsburgh to just four points and reclaimed a 33-30 advantage heading into the final period. Hirschler led the way with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Holmes added six points, five steals and four assists. White-Principio anchored the paint with 11 rebounds and four blocks.

However, the fourth quarter proved decisive. Plattsburgh outscored Oswego 18-5 down the stretch, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and key free throws to pull away. The Lakers shot 20.5% from the field in the contest. Despite the result, the Lakers battled defensively throughout, closing the 2025-26 campaign with resilience and grit.