PLATTSBURGH — Clinton Community College's Donna Dixon had never coached her women's basketball team to a win over Mohawk Valley Community College.
Until Saturday.
Katrina Garrand tossed in 20 points and the Cougars (12-4 overall) recorded a 65-55 win over the Hawks.
"This was a big win for us, especially coming off a disappointing loss against Schenectady," Dixon said. "Mohawk Valley is ranked 15th in the country and second in the region.
"The key for us today was that we played very well defensively and didn't play scared."
Garrand also added five rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Kiyanna Edwards added nine rebounds and three assists.
"They both had only one turnover each and that was big for us," Dixon said.
Another key factor in the Cougars' win was a 20-rebound performance by Ruth Paul.
"She was a monster on the boards," Dixon said.
Jade Pellerin finished with 14 points and five assists for Clinton, while Emily Decker added 11 points and Chelsey Brooks seven rebounds.
Shaniece Brown led Mohawk Valley with 19 points and Victoria Thomas added 11.
The Cougars, who led by one at the half, outscored the Hawks, 44-35, after halftime.
"In the second half, we were real strong," Dixon said. "We were able to get out in transition, and got good looks for our guards and post players.
"We also did a great job rebounding. They have a little more height than we do, but we outrebounded them for the game by 15."
Clinton held a 3-point lead with 3:45 to go.
"Pellerin, who was struggling a little bit, hit a big 3-pointer that put us up by six," Dixon said. "Then, with 2:03 left, Garrand hit a 3-pointer that gave us a 63-54 lead. Neither team scored in the final 1:30 of the game.
"It was a 3-point game with eight minutes to go. But, we were able to control the tempo. We pushed it in transition when we had a chance, but were patient when we had to and worked the clock. They also had two players foul out and that was key."
Both teams played well defensively in the first half, with the Cougars taking a 21-20 advantage.
"They have two real good players — Brooks and (Ashley) Cox — who came in averaging something like 20 and 18 points a game, respectively," Dixon said.
"We stayed in a zone and did a great job defending them. However, on offense, we weren't able to finish and did not shoot well from the line. We didn't shoot well from the line for the game."
The Cougars return to the court on Thursday when they host Hudson Valley Community College.
Clinton 65 , Mohawk Valley 55
Mohawk Valley (55)
Brown 7-5-19, Brooks 0-0-0, Portis 0-0-0, Cox 2-0-6, Jones 0-0-0, Sellars 2-0-6, Walker 2-4-8, Thomas 3-2-11, Carrasquillo 0-0-0, Murphy 2-1-5. Totals: 18-12-55.
Clinton (65)
Edwards 2-2-6, Garrand 9-2-20, Paul 3-1-7, Decker 2-7-11, Pellerin 5-1-14, Riley 0-0-0, Brooks 0-0-0, Diehl 3-0-7, Barber 0-0-0, Whitty 0-0-0. Totals: 25-11-65.
Halftime: Clinton, 21-20.
3-point goals: Mohawk Valley (7) Thomas 3, Cox 2, Sellars 2. Clinton (4) Pellerin 3, Diehl.
men Mohawk Valley 90 Clinton 35
PLATTSBURGH — Clinton coach Kevin Daugherty didn't mince words after his team suffered a blowout loss to the Hawks.
"It was the first time that we've quit this season," he said. "We can't sugarcoat it, that's what happened. Guys were playing with their heads down when things went bad."
Down 14 at the half, the Cougars scored just 13 points the rest of the way.
"They outplayed us in every facet of the game in the second half," Daugherty said.
Jahcin Ingrim led Mohawk Valley with 17 points. Zach Coleman added 14 and Alexshay Pearce, 10.
Sal Fabozzi scored a team-high nine for the Cougars (4-13), who went 6-for-16 from the free-throw line.
Mohawk Valley 90, Clinton 35
Mohawk Valley (90)
Pearce 3-3-10, Pinnock 1-5-7, Ingrim 8-0-17, Wilson 1-4-7, Louf 1-0-2, Coleman 4-3-14, Glenn 2-1-5, Burnett 3-0-6, Pierre-Louis 3-1-8, Favors 2-0-4, Holmes 2-6-10. Totals: 30-24-90.
Clinton (35)
Fabozzi 4-1-9, Sivels 2-0-5, Basso 2-0-6, Miller 1-5-7, Spencer 2-0-4, Carter 1-0-2, Gibson 1-0-2. Totals: 13-6-35.
Halftime: Mohawk Valley, 36-22.
3-point goals: Mohawk Valley (6) Coleman 3, Pierce, Ingrim, Wilson. Clinton (3) Basso 2, Sivels.
Paul Smith's 71 Central Maine 62
RANDOLPH CENTER, Vt. — Kashean Alston led four players in double figures with 18 points as the Bobcats prevailed.
Alex Medina added 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while Chib Belonwu scored 13 and Chris Fernandez 12 for Paul Smith's.
Belonwu and Fernandez each grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and both Medina and Belonwu dished out a team-high seven assists.
The Bobcats outscored Central Maine, 40-32, in the second half after taking a 31-30 lead into the intermission.
Nick Hinkley tallied 16 points and Tyler Smithgall 15 for Central Maine.
Paul Smith's 71,
Central Maine 62
Central Maine (62)
Cocroft 2-0-5, Hinkley 6-2-16, Giguere 2-0-6, Smithgall 6-3-15, Olayemi 3-1-7, Swinney 1-0-2, Baillargeon 0-0-0, Caron 0-0-0, Smith 1-0-2, Lorfils 0-0-0, Hughes 2-0-4, Lezane 2-0-5. Totals: 25-6-62.
Paul Smith's (71)
Medina 6-0-16, Alston 7-4-18, Edwards 1-2-5, Belonwu 4-3-13, Fernandez 5-2-12, Klinkbiel 1-0-3, Wightman 1-2-4. Totals: 25-13-71.
3-point goals: Central Maine (6): Hinkley 2; Giguere 2; Cocroft; Lezane. Paul Smith's (8): Medina 4; Belonwu 2; Edwards; Klinkbiel.
Halftime: Paul Smith's 31, Central Maine 30.
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