MARCY. N.Y. — The Keuka College Women's Basketball team lost their first game of the 2017-18 season on Saturday, falling at SUNY Poly by the score of 67-61.

Four players scored in double-digits for Keuka College (5-1, 1-1 NEAC), led by Sam Laranjo (Averill Park, N.Y. / Averill Park). She finished with 15 points and added a game-high six assists. Lauren Anten (Rochester, N.Y. / Hilton) scored 12 for the Wolves while Reighly Melochick (Minersville, Pa. / Minersville Area) and Sarah Tyler (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) each had 10 points in the loss.

SUNY Poly 67 vs. Keuka College 61

The defensive tone of the game was set early as both teams had pressure throughout the first quarter. The Wolves and Wildcats forced a combined 16 turnovers with 12 steals in the opening 10 minutes. The two teams shot less than 30% from the floor and were just 1-9 from three. SUNY Poly led 9-8 after the first.

Keuka College took the lead on a Sam Laranjo layup 3:21 into the second quarter to make it 12-11. Overall in the frame, Laranjo accounted for seven of Keuka's 14 points. The lead would change hands multiple times in the quarter. After Keuka took a four-point lead on three-pointers by Laranjo and Reighly Melochick, SUNY Poly scored for straight from the free throw line to tie the game at 22-22 going into halftime.

SUNY Poly took the lead back in the third, but was never able to pull away from the Wolves. They led by as many as seven in the quarter, but Keuka responded quickly with a pair of free throws and a three by Arianna DeNault (Latham, N.Y. / Shaker) to make it a two-point game. That margin would hold as SUNY Poly led 43-41 going to the final quarter.

Reighly Melochick gave the Wolves the lead as she knocked down a three on the quarter's opening possession. That was followed by a layup by Lauren Anten. However the Wildcats responded with a 7-0 run that gave them the lead back and they would not surrender it. Keuka College got the margin down to four points at 55-51 with 4:03 left to play, but that would be as close as they made it. SUNY Poly would continue onto the 67-61 North Eastern Athletic Conference victory.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College is now 17-10 all-time against SUNY Poly, but the Wildcats have now won nine straight games against Keuka College
• The loss snaps Keuka's five game winning streak to start the season. It was the best start since the 2010-11 season and was the 9th best start in program history
• SUNY Poly took advantage of their free throws, going 24-29 from the line while Keuka College was 11-15 from the charity stripe
• The Wolves controlled the paint, outrebounding the Wildcats by 14 and having a 30-16 advantage in scoring in the paint

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves have three more road games before the winter break. On Thursday, Keuka College will travel to Wells College to face the Express in a NEAC game. The Wolves travel to another NEAC opponent on Saturday when they play at SUNY Cobleskill. The 2017 portion of their schedule comes to an end next Sunday as Keuka College plays at SUNY Delhi in a non-conference game.