CORTLAND, N.Y. — The Keuka Women's Basketball team trailed by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday at SUNY Cortland. A furious comeback by the Wolves fell just short at Keuka College lost to the Red Dragons 64-63 in a non-conference matchup.

Keuka College (10-4, 5-2 NEAC) was led with 24 points by Lauren Anten (Rochester, N.Y. / Hilton). The junior scored 17 of her 24 in the second half to help guide the comeback attempt. Also in double figures for the Green and Gold was Reighly Melochick (Minersville, Pa. / Minersville Area). Melochick finished with 15 points for the Wolves.

SUNY Cortland 64 vs. Keuka College 63

The Red Dragons staked an early lead over Keuka College on Wednesday, leading 11-5 halfway through the first quarter. Riley Record (Palmyra, N.Y. / Palmyra-Macedon) hit a late three but that was answered by a Cortland jumper as the Red Dragons led 13-8 after the first quarter.

Cortland opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run to widen the margin. Lauren Anten got the Wolves on the board with a three with 6:23 left in the first half. However, SUNY Cortland responded and led 37-21 at the break.

Keuka College looked to cut into the lead after halftime. Lauren Anten hit another three just 11 seconds into the quarter, but Keuka was unable to cut into the lead. SUNY Cortland outscored the Wolves 19-15 in the frame and led 56-36 going into the final quarter.

A three by SUNY Cortland with 8:54 left to play made it a 21-point game, 59-38. The Wolves would not go down without a fight. Seconds after the basket, Reighly Melochick hit a three and the comeback effort began. Keuka drew it to 13 points at 59-46, but SUNY Cortland responded with a three with 6:42 left to play to make it 62-46. That would be the final field goal of the game for the Red Dragons. An Anten three with just under four minutes to play made it a single digit game, 62-54. Reighly Melochick made a layup with 1:48 left to shrink the margin to one, 62-61. In the dying seconds, Keuka was forced foul and SUNY Cortland made both attempts to take a 64-61 lead with 18 seconds left. Keuka worked the ball inside and got a layup by Niki Templeton (Livonia, N.Y. / Livonia) with eight seconds left in the game. Following a timeout, SUNY Cortland committed an over-and-back violation to give the Wolves the ball back with seven seconds left, trailing by one. Unfortunately for the Wolves their last second shot went wide and Keuka College fell to SUNY Cortland 64-63.

KC Notes:

• In their first meeting since the 2007-08 season, SUNY Cortland leveled the all-time series with Keuka College at 5-5
• The series has gone in runs. Keuka College won the first five meetings, dating back to the 1986-87 season, but SUNY Cortland has won the last five games
• Lauren Anten now has 89 career three-point baskets, sitting her in fifth place on the Keuka College all-time list
• Also moving onto the three-point list was Reighly Melochick. The junior has made 43 this season, moving her past Anten and into a tie with Brittany Schrock in ninth place on the single season list
• The final three-point milestone came from freshman Riley Record. She set a new career-high by hitting three triples in the game for Keuka

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves return to the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center for a key North Eastern Athletic Conference North Division game on Saturday. The Green and Gold will host division-leading SUNY Poly at 3pm on Saturday. The Wildcats defeated the Wolves 67-61 in December and have won the last nine meetings with Keuka College.