By Zach Braster '20
KEUKA PARK, N.Y. —The Keuka College Women's Basketball Team began the 2019 season at home on Tuesday with a matchup against the SUNY Canton Kangaroos.
The Wolves would score the first basket of the game and never looked back as they led from that first basket all the way until the buzzer sounded with a commanding 58-33 victory.
Meaghan McGwin (Rochester, N.Y. / Hilton) would lead Keuka College in points in her debut with 17 on 7-12 shooting. Sydney Bloom (Penn Yan, N.Y. / Penn Yan Academy) added 11 for the Wolves. The offense ran through Sam Laranjo (Averill Park, N.Y. / Averill Park) with six assists on the evening. She also tied for the team-lead in rebounding with six along with Arianna DeNault (Latham, N.Y. / Shaker), and Anna Hoover (Cape Vincent, N.Y. / Thousand Islands).
The Wolves opened with solid defense, forcing eight turnovers and limiting SUNY Canton to 10 points on 4-9 shooting. The Green and Gold posted two steals and three blocks in the opening frame. Sam Laranjo led Keuka College with five points in the quarter as the Wolves led 14-10 after 10 minutes of play.
After the tight margin in the first, Keuka College took the game over in the second as they would knock down four three pointers in the quarter and finish the half shooting 75% from the free throw line. Autumn Watkins would lead SUNY Canton through the half with 14 of the team's 18 points. Seven different Wolves scored in the opening half as Keuka College led the Roos 34-18 at the break.
The Wolves would pick up right where they left off as they would come out hot in the second half, outscoring the SUNY Canton 11-9 and expanding their lead to 45-27 through 30 minutes. Keuka College's bench was heavily involved in the offense tonight, outscoring the SUNY Canton bench 16-0 through three quarters. Points off turnovers would also play a key role for the Wolves as they lead in that category 19-4.
Anna Hoover would collect her fifth rebound of the game early on in the fourth quarter to give her 100 rebounds in her career here Keuka College.
The Green and Gold would close out the 58-33 season-opening victory. It was the fourth straight win to start the season for Keuka College.
The Keuka College Women's Basketball team will be in action again this weekend, November 15 and 16 when they travel to Brockport to participate in the Brockport Tip-Off Tournament. Keuka College will next play at home on Saturday, December 3 when they host Penn St.-Abington to begin North Eastern Athletic Conference play.