SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - Joleen Lusk (Cherry Valley/Cherry Valley-Springfield) hit the game-winning put-back layup following a missed free throw with 1.1 seconds remaining as the Cortland women's basketball team won 59-57 over Colby College, ranked 25th nationally by D3hoops.com, during the opening day of the Springfield College Fairfield Inn & Suites Enfield/Naismith Classic.
 
Cortland (6-2) will face Rivier (N.H.) Friday at 5:30 p.m. during Day 2 of the predetermined tournament. Colby (6-3) will face host Springfield Friday at 3 p.m.
 
Cortland led 27-24 at halftime and by as many as 13 points in the second half at 39-26 with 5:57 left in the third quarter. The Mules fought back and were within five after the third quarter, 42-37, and within two in the first 20 seconds of the fourth quarter. Colby eventually took its lone lead of the second half at 57-56 on a Talia Thompson basket with 49 seconds left.
 
The Red Dragons missed a shot on their next possession, but Cortland got the ball back on a Lusk steal with 10 seconds left. Following a timeout, Kaeli McAnally (Islip) drove to the basket and was fouled with about three seconds left. She made the first free throw to tie the game but missed the second, but Lusk scored on the putback to give Cortland the lead.
 
Colby called timeout to advance the ball to the frontcourt. The Mules had two inbound opportunities due to a clock malfunction but were not able to get a shot off.
 
Lusk led Cortland with 15 points and 10 rebounds. She made 7-of-13 shots from the field. McAnally connected on 2-of-3 shots from 3-point range and ended with 11 points and two assists, Brooke Tillotson (Marathon) registered 11 points and four rebounds, and Jackie Funk (Penfield) had 10 points and two steals.
 
Kate Olenik, a D3hoops.com preseason All-American, led Colby with 20 points, five rebounds and three steals. Lydia Modarski scored 13 points, including 3-of-5 3-point shooting, and added five rebounds.
 
Cortland shot 50 percent from the field (22-of-44), with 44 percent accuracy (7-of-16) from the 3-point arc. Colby finished at 36 percent from the field overall (16-of-44), including 11-of-21 in the second half. The Mules made five of their six 3-pointers after halftime. Colby finished the game 19-of-28 from the foul line compared to Cortland's 8-of-13 shooting.