Box Score 

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Despite strong defensive pressure, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball team could not counter the sharp shooting of No. 18 ranked SUNY Geneseo as the Hawks fell to the Knights, 56-39, in the Hawk Center on Saturday afternoon.

Geneseo opened up the first quarter with a 20-11 lead over the Hawks but New Paltz trimmed the deficit off of an 8-0 run for a 20-19 score at the 7:38 mark in the second quarter. Although the Knights were able to slip through the pressure of the Hawks' defense, New Paltz remained close behind and only trailed by three at intermission (25-22).

Coming out of the break, the Knights could not be stopped as they outscored New Paltz in the third stanza, 15-6, for a 40-28 gap heading into the final quarter. Despite having difficulties with converting shots, New Paltz battled hard to keep the Knights within reach, eventually roping the score within 12 (47-35) with 6:52 left to play. Unfortunately it would not be enough as the Knights kept up their hot offensive shooting to cement the final 56-39 tally as time ran down.

Senior forward Courtney Irby (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) recorded 11 points and five rebounds off the bench for New Paltz while senior guard/forward Kit Small (Slingerlands, N.Y./Academy of the Holy Names) totaled eight points and three steals.

Senior guard Kara Houppert paced the Geneseo offense with 18 points. Sophomore forward McKenna Brooks posted a double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds for the day while senior forward Katie Vienneau chipped in 11 points for the Knights.

The Hawks fall to 14-8, 11-5 SUNYAC and are back in action on Friday, Feb. 17 when they host SUNY Plattsburgh in the Hawk Center at 7:30 p.m.