#9 Ranked Lady Cannoneers Overtake #5 Onondaga

The #9 NJCAA ranked Cannoneers hosted #5 Onondaga in a high-energy MSAC rivalry matchup on Wednesday night. The Lazers came out firing, taking a 20–14 lead after the first quarter and maintaining momentum early in the second. Jefferson responded with poise, clawing back to tie the game at 25–25, before Onondaga answered with a 10-0 run to reclaim control. The Cannoneers closed the half strong with a 4-0 burst, cutting the deficit to 35–29 at halftime.

The opening minutes of the third quarter turned into a defensive standoff, with neither team scoring for the first 4:30 of the period. Onondaga eventually broke through with a 6-0 run to push the lead to 41–29, but Jefferson refused to fold. The Cannoneers erupted with a 10-0 run of their own to pull within two. Jefferson then outscored the Lazers 9–6 in the final minutes of the quarter to grab a 48–47 lead heading into the fourth.

The final quarter showcased the Cannoneers' resilience and execution. After the teams traded early baskets, Jefferson delivered another powerful punch—a 10-0 run that pushed the lead to 62–52. Onondaga trimmed the deficit to seven, but the Cannoneers responded once again, stretching the lead to double digits and controlling the game down the stretch by hitting timely free throws and locking in defensively.

Jefferson was fueled by a standout freshman quartet:

• Abby Bombard – 20 points, 5 assists
• Maddy Ferris – 20 points, 7 rebounds
• Brooke Wiley – 11 points, 5 assists
• Keera Lalonde – 9 points, 5 assists

Defensively, Sophomore Layla Killino played a crucial role, dominating the glass with 10 rebounds.

With the victory, the Cannoneers improve to 6–2 in Region III and 3–0 in the MSAC heading into the winter break. Jefferson returns to action on the road at Division II Monroe on January 6th, followed by a home matchup with Division II Jamestown on January 10th.

Photo by Jefferson Student Angelina Raulino