WILMINGTON, Ohio – SUNY Geneseo senior forward Shannon McGinnis scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and made three steals but it was host Wilmington taking a 75-68 victory in the championship game of the Damon's/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament, Sunday afternoon.
"Wilmington came out with a lot of energy to win their tournament today," said head coach Scott Hemer. "Unfortunately, we were unable to match their energy for long enough periods throughout the game to get a victory and our rebounding efforts could have been much better."
Down four points, 16-12, with 13:07 left to play in the first half, junior guard Dana Cohan hit a three-pointer to end a 7-0 Quaker run. Cohan finished with 11 points.
Sophomore guard Bridgit Ryan would hit a lay-up to bring Geneseo within one, 29-28, with 1:46 remaining in the first half but Wilmington would go on to hit four free throws to take a 33-28 lead into halftime. Ryan had seven points, three steals and three rebounds in the setback.
Down 36-30 in the first minute of the second half, a layup by senior guard Biz Reinhardt started a 16-0 run for the Knights. A lay-up by McGinnis brought the Knights within one, 36-35, and three-straight lay-ups by sophomore guard Kara Houppert continued the team's offensive spurt as Geneseo would stretch its lead to seven points, 46-39. Houppert ended the night with eight points in 21 minutes off the bench.
With 11:10 on the clock, McGinnis hit a shot from beyond the arc to keep the Knights on top, 51-45.
Wilmington would go on a 19-7 run to take back the lead, 64-58, with 4:00 remaining in the game. A layup by sophomore guard Katie Durand cut the deficit to four and another three-pointer by McGinnis brought the team within three, 66-63, with 3:08 left on the clock but that was as close as Geneseo would get for rest of the game.
Starting senior center Katie Peterson contributed seven points and four rebounds while Reinhardt finished with five points, three rebounds and three assists.
McGinnis and Cohen were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Knights return to action Saturday Nov. 22nd for their home opener opposite Juniata at 2:00 p.m.