The nationally-ranked Onondaga Community College women's basketball team earned the right to defend its Region III title after running past fifth-seeded Jefferson Community College, 71-56, in the semifinal round of the 2015 NJCAA Region III Championship on Saturday in the SRC Arena and Events Center.

In the afternoon's other semifinal, second-seeded Mohawk Valley defeated third-seeded North Country, 66-51.

The win marks Onondaga's 18th straight win and is the fourth time the Lazers (28-4) have bested Jefferson this season. With the loss, Jefferson's season comes to an end at 18-8.

The Lazers set the tempo in the opening minute with three fast break baskets before Jefferson could blink to take a 6-0 lead.

After swapping points over the next few minutes, Onondaga would open up a 17-point advantage, 30-13, courtesy of a 14-2 run book-ended by layups from Alisia Griffin and Melissa Bakowski.

Jefferson kept it close in the waning moments of the first half and used an 8-1 spurt to make it 33-22 at intermission.

The Cannoneers would cut the deficit to nine points in the second half before the top-seeded Lazers would create some breathing room after scoring 10 of the game's next 14 points to take a commanding 16-point lead, 63-47, with 3:08 left to play.

The Cannoneers were forced to foul as time was wearing thin on a comeback attempt, but in the end, the Lazers converted 6-of-8 free throw attempts in the final three minutes to secure the win.

Four players scored in double-figures for the Lazers led by Griffin's 18 points.  Bakowski posted her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and a team-high 14 boards while Kumba Marong finished with 15 points, six rebounds and a game-high five blocks.  Samantha Roberts tallied 15 points and seven helpers in the win and Brittany Anderson netted eight points.

The top-seeded Lazers will battle the second-seeded Mohawk Valley Community College Hawks in a rematch of last year's Region III title game with the winner advancing to the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship in Bethlehem, PA.  The action is scheduled to tip at 12 p.m. on Sunday in the SRC Arena and Events Center.  The two teams met in January with Onondaga emerging the winner, 75-69, in overtime.