Canton, NY – The SUNY Canton women's basketball team had a historic first season in the SUNYAC winning the first ever SUNYAC playoff game in school history as they recorded a 16-11 record during the 2024-25 season.

This marks the fourth straight season the Roos have posted a winning record under fifth year Head Coach Chris Klassen. The team opened the season with three straight wins against Russell Sage (11/9), Clarkson (11/12) and Bryant & Stratton Albany (11/16).

After dropping three straight games, including a pair of contests in the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, the Roos battled back with back-to-back wins against Hilbert (1/2) and Oneonta (1/7) to kick off the new year.
 
Overall in SUNYAC play the Roos swept Morrisville (1/11, 2/21), Potsdam (1/18, 2/14) and Buffalo State (1/25, 2/7) while splitting games against Oneonta, Fredonia, Oswego and Plattsburgh. Canton dropped a pair of games to top seed Cortland, including one game by just two points at home, as well as two contests to two seed New Paltz. The Roos recorded a 10-8 SUNYAC record in their first season in the conference.

Some of the most memorable games of the season included a 77-72 OT win against Clarkson behind 24 points from Kat McRobbie-Taru and a double-double from Torie Moore. The Roos also had a three point (85-82) win against Fredonia at home (1/24). Chelsie Tyler was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field hitting the go-ahead basket with 24 seconds remaining.  



One of the most thrilling regular season contests came on the road where Hope Aniceto drained the game-winning three-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining in a 76-75 road win at Oswego on February 1st. Despite it being a loss, the Roos played SUNYAC top seed Cortland (22-3, 17-1 SUNYAC) down to the final possession on February 22nd at home as Aniceto eclipsed the 1,000 career point milestone.



The Roos saved their most thrilling game of the season for the playoffs as they defeated Plattsburgh 61-58 in the Roos first ever SUNYAC playoff victory in front of a packed crowd on February 25th. Natalie Bartle gave Canton the lead for good with 13.9 seconds remaining finishing an and-one and making three free throws and recorded a steal in the closing seconds. The Roos ultimately fell in the SUNYAC semifinal to eventual SUNYAC champion Cortland 67-54.



Bartle was named the SUNYAC Player of the Week twice (1/13/25, 2/17/25) and following the season she was tabbed SUNYAC First Team All-Conference, while Sierra Pabo earned Second Team honors. Bartle also became the first Roos basketball player to be named D3hoops.com All-Region and only the second ever female Canton player and third overall across all sports to be named All-Region at the NCAA D-III level. Aniceto continues to own the Roos D-III era program records for single-season made threes (92: 2023-24), single-game made threes (10 on 2/7/24 vs. Paul Smith's) and career made threes (228).

Bartle also earned the SUNY Canton Athletic department's Co-Female Student-Athlete of the Year honor as well as the 2025 Outstanding Baccalaureate Graduate Award. McRobbie-Taru was named the Athletic Department's Female Rookie of the Year as well as being named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.

Bartle, Pabo, Abigail Rice and Sadey Sprabary all earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors. Meanwhile, both Rice and Sprabary were honored with the SUNYAC's Elite 20 Award, which goes to the student-athlete at each of the SUNYAC's championship final sites with the highest cumulative grade point average.

The Roos are expected to lose Torie Moore, Kennady Allen and Bartle to graduation.
   

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.