McLaughlin goes for 20 but Women's Basketball drops season opener to Cobleskill 66-60

Cobleskill, NY- The MCLA Women's Basketball program fell to Cobleskill 66-60 tonight in the season opener for both teams.  Cobleskill's Addy Lawson came off the bench to spark the Fighting Tigers with a game high 20 point effort.  

Courtney McLaughlin paced MCLA (0-1) with 20 points of her own.

MCLA played well early and led after the first quarter 18-13.  The Tigers would rally though and eventually knot things up heading to the locker rooms at halftime tied at 28-28.

The second half was nip and tuck all the way as Cobleskill would hold the lead, but never by more than three points until the final minutes.  They would eventually take a 47-43 lead into the fourth quarter.  When MCLA's Mackenzie Robinson connected on a three pointer, it was tied at 47-47.  

A minute later when McLaughlin connected from deep MCLA led 50-49 with 7:35 left to play.  Later in the fourth, with the score at 54-54, the Tigers would would get a pair of Shelby Preston free throws and a Shaliyah Graham bucket to go up four at 58-54 with 2:23 left to play.

Emily Moulton's layup cut the deficit in half, but MCLA would get no closer.  Graham would connect on four straight from the line to preserve the lead and ultimately provide the final margin giving the hosts the win.

McLaughlin went 6-10 from the floor for her 20 point night and added 5 rebounds and 3 assists.  Ashley Clawson added 13 points and 5 assists for the Trailblazers.  

Lawson went 6-10 and a perfect 6-6 from the stripe for her 20 points.  Creighton would end with 15 points, while Preston added 7 points and a game best 11 rebounds.  Graham ended with 10 points, 8 of which came in the fourth quarter.

MCLA went just 10-19 from the line while Cobleskill went 19-24.

The Trailblazers will search for their first win on Thursday night when they host Dean College.