CORTLAND, N.Y. – Melissa Graham scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Geneseo pulled away in the second half to defeat Cortland, 54-41, in a SUNYAC contest. Allison McKenna added 10 points and five rebounds and Shannon McGinnis finished with eight points and 13 rebounds off the bench for the Knights (10-4, 6-2 SUNYAC).

Freshman Caysea Cohen led Cortland (5-8, 3-4 SUNYAC) with 11 points and four steals. Sophomore Brittany Rando recorded 10 points and four steals and sophomore Brooke DeMarco had 10 points and five rebounds.

Both teams turned in strong defensive performances. Geneseo shot 33 percent from the floor and committed 24 turnovers, while Cortland shot 20 percent from the field with 17 turnovers.

Trailing 14-7 early, Cortland scored nine straight points on two Cohen three-pointers and a Rando trey to take a 16-14 lead with 3:30 left in the first half. The Knights came back to lead 23-20 at halftime, then opened the second half on a 10-2 run to lead 33-22 with 15:08 left. McKenna and Katie Peterson each scored five points in that stretch.

Geneseo's lead grew to as much as 20 at 51-31 with 6:31 left. Cortland scored the next nine points – six by DeMarco – and pulled within 50-41 with 2:22 left, but the Red Dragons were unable to get any closer.

Cortland will play at Brockport on Saturday at 6 p.m.