Posted: Mar 02, 2018
Courtesy of Geneseo Athletics
MEDFORD, MASS. – SUNY Geneseo junior forward McKenna Brooks finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, four steals and four blocks but it wasn't enough to keep the Knights' season alive in a 54-47 setback to Ithaca in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, hosted by Tufts, on Friday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ithaca opened the game on an 11-3 run, but the Knights cut into the lead before the end of the opening period. Junior guard Kelsey Poplawski drilled a three and Brooks hit a layup to reduce the deficit as the Knights went into the break trailing, 17-10.
- Geneseo opened the second quarter on a 10-5 run, drawing to within two points, but Ithaca closed the frame with an 8-1 run to take a 30-21 lead at halftime.
- In the third quarter, Geneseo held Ithaca to 2-for-14 shooting from the floor to outscore the Bombers, 12-7. First-year forward Kerrin Montgomery capped the scoring with a layup as the Knights trailed, 37-33, entering the final quarter.
- In the fourth, Ithaca used two early turnovers to begin the frame on a 6-0 run and regain a 10-point advantage. A pair of Brooks layups pulled the Knights back to within six points, 47-41, with 5:17 to play, but it was all the team could muster as Ithaca closed out the game.
QUICK FACTS
- Geneseo committed a season-high 25 turnovers and shot a season-low 1-for-11 (9.1%) from beyond the arc.
- Montgomery finished with 10 points and six rebounds while first-year guard Natalie Alfieri scored 11.
- Making their fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the Knights' 53 victories over the past two seasons tied the winningest two-year stretch in program history.