Women’s basketball destroys Old Westbury for first win

Sophomore guard Maggie McGrane hitting the Knight’s successful three-point shot against SUNY Old Westbury over the weekend (Photo Courtesy of GeneseoKnights.com)

This past Sunday, Nov. 12, Geneseo’s women’s basketball team pulled through with a dominant win against the SUNY Old Westbury Panthers. The Knights tallied an impressive 81 points after a tough season-opening loss against St. Joseph’s University, New York-Long Island the previous day. 

Geneseo jumped right into play with a quick jumper by senior guard Kiley Snow within the first few minutes of the game to give the Knights an early two points. Thirty seconds later, Snow assisted sophomore guard Maggie McGrane in a powerful three-point shot, giving Geneseo a 5-0 lead. 

Defensively, McGrane successfully grabbed a rebound from the other team, regained possession, and passed it off to senior guard Kelly McLaughlin who took an easy layup in the paint and pushed the lead to seven. 

At the seven-minute mark in the first quarter, senior forward Kerry Dennin was fouled in the act of shooting, was awarded two free throws and sank one. Snow scored once again, this time with a three-pointer and an assist by graduate student guard Hannah Stockman. 

McGraine took possession and hit a clean jumper in the paint to keep the momentum going and the score comfortable. Junior forward Brianna Beebe would then score a field goal of her own off a defensive rebound by Dennin and an assist from Snow. Old Westbury fouled shortly thereafter, giving McLaughlin a chance to redeem herself at the line. Freshman forward Kristin Suydam recorded a steal, allowing Geneseo to put up a few more shots before the buzzer.

Going into the second quarter, the scoreboard read 21-9 in favor of Geneseo. The defensive rebounds persisted from Dennin, Snow, McGraine, and McLaughlin, who all grabbed several rebounds early in the second quarter to boost their already-impressive stat line.

Another foul by Old Westbury rewarded Geneseo with two free throws by Stockman to put the Knights up 23-9. A solid block by Dennin, followed by a turnover from the Panthers, resulted in a successful layup by Hintz in the paint, assisted by junior guard Mackenzie Reigle. 

With a successful three-pointer by McGraine assisted by freshman guard Kathleen Birmingham, the Knights ran up the score. A buzzer-beating three-point basket was made by Snow off a rebound and an assist from sophomore guard Eva Elliot. The late field goal ended the second quarter and first half with a score of 45-13 in favor of Geneseo. 

The Knights' momentum did not stop as they went into the next two quarters and scored 36 more points while only allowing Old Westbury 10. Their defense was on point with successful blocks, clean steals, and effective rebounds. Additionally, new scorers such as graduate student forward Madison Hoyt hit successful jumpers to help propel the Knights forward, scoring more frequently and defensively keeping the Panthers at bay.

Geneseo will look to have more commanding performances throughout the season, as they seek to make this another successful year.