GENESEO, NY: The SUNY Geneseo women's basketball team advanced to the Empire 8 semifinals after a 59-41 win over Russell Sage on Saturday afternoon. The Knights now sit at 18-8 overall and are 11-5 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Knights exploded out of the gate, outscoring Sage 14-5 in the opening quarter. Eva Elliot set the tone immediately, finishing a fastbreak layup just two seconds in. Geneseo continued to tack on points as Sage's offense struggled to find its rhythm. Maggie McGrane capped the frame with a three-pointer, sending Geneseo into the second quarter firmly in control.
• Sage applied pressure in the second quarter, putting up 15 points to chip away at the deficit. Grace Galgano paced Geneseo with six of the team's 11 points in the frame. At the half, Geneseo held a 25-20 advantage over Sage.
• Geneseo stayed productive in the third quarter, finishing 7-for-14 from the field. Audrey Hintz led the way with two layups and a jumper in the paint. Still, the Gators remained within striking distance at 40-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
• The Knights pulled away in the final quarter, nearly doubling Sage's scoring output. The Gators were unable to recover, as Geneseo secured a 59-41 win in the quarterfinal matchup.

QUICK FACTS:

• Galgano dominated on offense, leading the team with 18 points while shooting 8-for-15 from the field.
• Kristin Suydam recorded a team-high 13 rebounds and added three blocks.
• Hintz contributed 12 points and three assists.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Knights will take on Nazareth in Rochester on Wednesday, February 25 at 6 P.M. Stay tuned for ticket information.