1/24/26
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – The opportunities were given, but Lackawanna College women's basketball couldn't take advantage, as the Falcons dropped a 63-47 region contest at home to Salem CC on Saturday afternoon inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium.
 
The Falcons (7-11, 3-7) struggled from the field throughout the afternoon, shooting just 22.4% from the floor, going 6-for-26 from downtown, and hitting 11-of-20 free throws. Still, after trailing by as many as eleven in the first quarter, they had a chance to swing the game into their favor just a few minutes into the second quarter.
 
Lackawanna rallied and then tied the game off an offensive rebound and feed to Abigail Merrifield (Dickson City, PA), knotting things up at 20-20 with under seven minutes to go in the quarter. The Falcons then had six different opportunities to tie or take the lead over the next three minutes of game time, but they came up empty every time, missing four shots and two free throws, while also committing a turnover.
 
Eventually, the Mighty Oaks (3-12, 2-6) hit a pair of free throws to go ahead at 22-20, their first points of the second stanza, and the Oaks maintained a lead, even as Lackawanna closed strong with five-straight points from Alania Ortiz (Allentown, PA). It was Salem ahead, 28-27, at the break.
 
In the second half, the offense struggled for Lackawanna through the first six minutes, with the Falcons only scoring two points and falling behind by a 37-29 margin. A quick 6-0 burst from Lackawanna got the home side within 37-35, fueled by four points from Ortiz. A three from Salem was quickly answered by a bucket from Desireé Nales (Allentown, PA), making it 40-37, Salem, with 1:46 remaining in the quarter, but the Oaks closed on a quick 6-0 run, extending out to a 46-37 lead after three.
 
The fourth was another struggle from Lackawanna, as the Falcons went the first eight minutes without a shot from the field going down, instead scoring on just four free throws. Meanwhile, Salem put up 12 points to build an 18-point lead at one point and cruised to its second region victory from there.
 
The Mighty Oaks shot 31% for the game, but scored 29 points off 27 Lackawanna turnovers, while also putting up 19 second-chance points. Three players scored in double-figures, led by Tanijya Shaw's 25 points, along with eight steals and four assists. Paula Wilson had 12 points and eight boards, while Kasey Oliver added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double.
 
Sophia Summa (Dunmore, PA) had 13 points and six rebounds, making four three-pointers, while Ortiz added eleven points and eight rebounds. Canyah Randle (Scranton, PA) had five points and a career-high 20 rebounds.
 
The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Falcons and severely hampers their hopes of a Region XIX Division II playoff bid. Lackawanna will bet back to work on Tuesday, January 27^th, when the Falcons are set to host NJCAA Division II #11 Union College in an important region contest. Tip is set for 5:00pm ET inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium.