Conference foe falls to Generals by double digits at home

HERKIMER, NY – Starting off slow, something the Herkimer Generals Women’s Basketball doesn’t do at home, occurred within the first 10 minutes of the first half against conference rival Mohawk Valley Wednesday night in the varsity gym. Once everything settled, the final 30 minutes belonged to the Generals, outscoring the Hawks 60-27, en route to their seventh consecutive win at home 64-38.

Herkimer 8-10 (4-5) only scored two points in the first nine minutes until Shahadah Williams (Syracuse, NY) stole it and scored on a layup with the left hand. Williams finished the game with 12 points. From there, a Samantha Randio (Ravena, NY) three-pointer, Kaylyn Dickerson (Douglasville, GA) field goal and two made foul shots by Alyssa Craig (Fonda, NY) got the Generals within two (15-13).

Building on that momentum, Herkimer captured its first lead after an Emily Rexford (Canton, NY) three-pointer, Williams steal and Dickerson field goal (18-16). It didn’t stop there, after a brief tie (20-20), Herkimer jumped out to a 10-point lead, highlighted by a Korey Bunal (Rome, NY) three-point play on an assist from Rexford. Rexford then hit two more three’s in the final two minutes to give her team a nine-point lead at half 33-24. Rexford led her team with 11 point in the half, finishing the game with 16, thanks to four made three-point field goals.

Dickerson ignited the offense early in the second half, scoring buckets on assists from Rexford. Her second was on a nifty turn-around from the baseline, giving Herkimer a 37-26 lead. Dickerson finished with nine points in the game. A Williams offensive rebound and field goal bumped the lead to 13 (46-33), then a Craig three-point play and Rexford three-point field goal bumped it to 17 (52-35) with under 10 minutes left in regulation.

Herkimer scored 12 more points in the final minutes, holding the Hawks to only three and 14 for the half, their best defensive effort this season. One point less than when they defeated SUNY Delhi 73-29.

Rounding out the scoring for Herkimer was Randio, Raven Griffin (Syracuse, NY), Bunal, Cheyenne Richards (Little Falls, NY) and Craig. Randio finished with six, Griffin finished with two, Bunal finished with seven, Richards finished with two and Craig finished with 10 (6-for-8 from foul line).

The Generals next game is against Genesee Community College this Sunday (2/2). They beat the Cougars by seven in the Mohawk Valley Community College Tournament early in the season. They’ll look for another solid effort from the entire team again to pull this one out. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m.

-Giorgio Varlaro; Athletic Website Manager