MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College women's basketball team rolled to a 80-62 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory Saturday afternoon, dominating visiting Cazenovia College in a Route 20 Rivalry showdown in Morrisville.

The win is the fourth straight for the Mustangs, who improve to 5-3 overall, upping their conference record to 2-0. Cazenovia drops to 1-4, 0-1 in NEAC action.

 Morrisville State had monster games out of freshman Caitlin Duree (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Alyssa Gratien (Syracuse, N.Y.) as they led the charge for the Mustangs with a combined 48 points on the day. Duree posted her first collegiate double-double, netting a game high 25 points and 12 steals, adding six rebounds to her tallies, four of which were on the offensive glass.

Gratien was just as an offensive threat for the Wildcats, netting 23 points on 5-of-11 from long range, while adding seven assists and three steals.

Jennel Paul (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had 12 points in the win for the Mustangs, snagging seven boards, while teammate Caitlynn Adams (Sherburne, N.Y.) had a game high nine rebounds, six offensive. Jordan Anderson (West Edmeston, N.Y.) dished out eight points to go along with her four steals and eight points.

Erin O'Malley led the Wildcats efforts with 16 points, all of which came in the second half, while teammate Kali Davis added a 15 point, eight rebound effort for Cazenovia.

Cazenovia jumped out to an early 8-2 lead minutes into the contest before finding their offensive rhythm to take the lead with 14:01 showing on the clock. Morrisville State then used a 19-4 run over the ensuing 10 minutes to bury the Wildcats into a 16 point hole, one of which they struggled to find their way out of before the end of the half.

The Mustangs were able to generate 28 points off 21 first half Cazenovia miscues, adding 14 points that came as second chance opportunities. Duree was a defensive instigator for Morrisville State in the first half, causing eight steals that led to 16 total for the hosts in the opening 20.

In the second, Cazenovia was able to cut the lead to 10 with seven minutes remaining in the contest, but Morrisville State used a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to increase their lead to 23, and one that wouldn't be relinquished as they collected the conference victory.

Morrisville State again capitalized off Wildcat miscues, adding 13 additional points off turnovers while getting another 12 off second chance opportunities on the offensive glass.

Morrisville State out shot Cazenovia 40.9% to 37.5%, forced 30 Wildcat miscues, while compiling a season high 24 steals. The hosts also dominated from long range, nailing 8-of-16 three's.

The Mustangs return to the court Thursday, traveling to Albany College of Pharmacy for a 6 p.m. non-conference tip, wrapping up the first semester schedule.

Morrisville State sets the world in motion for students. Curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology. Lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs, the college was named to the 2012 President's Higher Community Education Service Honor Roll. The college was recognized, by U.S. News and World Report, in its top tier Best Regional Colleges list and ranked second among regional colleges nationwide for outperforming its anticipated graduation rate. Visit www.morrisville.edu to experience, Morrisville in motion. 

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