No team in NJCAA Division III women's basketball has scored more points this season than Onondaga Community College.  The Lazers are first in the nation in total points and rank second in the nation in points per game with over 82.  But it wasn't the offense that turned the tide in Onondaga's 61-46 win over Jefferson Community College at Allyn Hall on Saturday – it was their staunch defense. 
 
Employing varying defensive sets throughout the game, the #3 nationally ranked Lazers advanced to the regional final for the eighth consecutive year.  They will play arch-rival Mohawk Valley Community College (64-56 winners over Fulton Montgomery Community College ) at noon on Sunday at Allyn Hall.  That game will be a match-up of two top 10 teams for the second time this year - as Mohawk enters the game as the 5^th ranked team in the country.  Earlier this year, Onondaga beat Mohawk in Utica in an 82-81 thriller on a last second jump shot by Hope DeFazio (Baldwinsville).
 
Sophomores Melissa Bakowski (West Genesee), Samantha Roberts (Cicero-North Syracuse), and Kumba Marong (Bronx Leadership Academy) all scored in double figures for the Lazers – with Bakowski leading the way with 11 points.  After a close first quarter, Onondaga exploded for 24 points in the second period to jump out to a 19 point halftime lead which proved to be insurmountable as they maintained a double digit lead for the remainder of the game.
 
With the victory, Onondaga improves to 29-3 for the season while Jefferson ends their season at 18-9.