Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. –  A pair of substantial SUNY Geneseo first- and second-half runs helped the visiting Knights erase a 20-6 first-half deficit and defeat the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team, 62-41, on Friday evening in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play at the Hawk Center.
 
The Knights' two game-changing runs came at the end of the first half, including a 14-0 spurt that tied the game at 20-20. The second came in the first 7:46 of the second half, when Geneseo went on a 17-2 spurt to build a 41-27 lead. The Knights secured a double-figures margin that held firm; the closest New Paltz coming at 49-37 with 10:25 to play following a layup from freshman forward Courtney Irby (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale).
 
The loss drops New Paltz to 3-13, 1-8 in the SUNYAC. Geneseo improves to 10-4, 4-3. The Hawks conclude their lengthy home stand on Saturday with a 2 p.m. game against The College at Brockport. On Saturday, Geneseo heads to SUNY Oneonta for a 2 p.m. game.
 
On the strength of eight first-half points from sophomore guard Goldie Harrison (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial), the Hawks raced out to an impressive 20-6 lead with 7:38 to play until halftime.  Geneseo absorbed the blow, however, and went on a 14-0 run to tie the game 20-20, getting seven of those points from junior forward Shannon McGinnis.  With sophomore guard Christine Rivera (Long Beach, N.Y./Valley Stream) scoring New Paltz's final five points, the Hawks took a slim 25-24 lead into halftime.
 
The first 7:46 of the second half proved the decisive portion of the contest. The Knights' 17-2 run came on 8-for-13 shooting from the field and was led by seven points from sophomore forward Allison McKenna.  An Irby jumper stopped the onslaught, but Geneseo got back-to-back three-pointers from junior center Katie Peterson and freshman forward Kayleigh Cavanaugh with 12:26 to play, pushing its lead to 47-29.  
 
Geneseo allowed very few second-chance opportunities, grabbing 36 defensive rebounds en route to a 51-28 advantage on the glass. A deeper Knights bench enabled the visitors to outscore New Paltz 22-4 among reserves.
 
Rivera led the Hawks with 11 points, matching her season- and career-high. Freshman forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Names) had her fourth straight double figures scoring effort with 10 points. Harrison finished with nine points. Irby and junior guard Shannan Walker (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) each had six rebounds for New Paltz.
 
McGinnis secured a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. McKenna had 12 points and Peterson notched a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.