A strong surge in the second half fell short tonight for the SUNY Oneonta women's basketball team, falling at home to SUNY Geneseo 56-52.  The Red Dragons couldn't get any closer than three points down the stretch, as they dropped its SUNYAC opener.
 
Oneonta (4-2, 0-1 SUNYAC) scored the final seven points of the third period to cut its deficit to six points entering the fourth period.  Senior Samantha Lisikatos (Cold Spring/Haldane) scored the last five points of the run including a three-pointer to end the quarter.
 
After scoring the first four points of the fourth period to push its lead back to 10 points, the Red Dragons countered with five quick points to get back to within striking distance.  The two teams then exchanged mini runs the rest of the way.
 
Freshman Lindsey Halpin buried a three-pointer to end the first quarter to give Geneseo (5-1, 1-0 SUNYAC) a 19-14 lead.  The Knights put together multiple spurts throughout the opening ten minutes in building its early advantage.
 
The Knights, who led from wire-to-wire, continued to build its lead in the second quarter outscoring Oneonta 16-10 to take a 35-24 lead at halftime.  Kelsey Poplawski ended the period with a shot from behind the arc.
 
Junior McKenna Brooks, who led all scorers tonight with 15 points, scored 13 of them in the first half.  She was joined in double figures by Halpin, who scored 14 points.
 
Lisikatos was the lone Red Dragon to reach double figures with 11 points.
 
Despite outrebounding the Knights 47-41 including 22 off the offensive glass, the Red Dragons could only turn their second chances into 12 points.
 
Oneonta will host Brockport tomorrow afternoon at 1pm.