GENESEO, N.Y. - Hilbert College ran into a very efficient and well-oiled Geneseo Knights team tonight and suffered a season-opening setback in women's basketball.

THE BASICS

⦁    Final Score: Geneseo 83 Hilbert 49
⦁    Location: Schrader Gym, SUNY Geneseo, 7:30 P.M.
⦁    Records: Geneseo 1-0 (0-0 SUNYAC) Hilbert 0-1 (0-0 AMCC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Knights opened the game fast, setting the tone for the 40 minute-game.  Geneseo scored on their first nine possessions, took a 19-2 lead and forced Hilbert to take its first timeout with 5:45 on the clock in the first quarter.  
• The Hawks  struggled to connect offensively but they got a big lift at the end of the quarter when Emily Gawlak scored off a Taylor Corts full-court inbounds pass before the buzzer cutting the margin (33-14) after ten minutes of action.
• Geneseo scored most of their second quarter points off a 2-man game away from the lane with aggressive rolls to the hoop or strong inside rebounding position on the offensive glass.
• Hilbert seemed rushed and out of synch on offense.  The Hawks rushed perimeter shots and offensive put-backs but continued to fight for position even though they trailed  53-23 at intermission.
• The Royal and White manufactured only six 3rd quarter points giving up 22 to the hosts.
• Hilbert outscored Geneseo 20-8 in the final session but had too much ground to cover and dropped their first non-conference game of season.
• Senior guards, Emily Gawlak and Taylor Corts led the Hawks on the scoreboard with 16 and 11 points respectively.   Corts earned team-high honors on the glass with five rebounds.
• Geneseo had four players post double figure points led by Kerrin Montgomery who was credited with 20 points (9-11 from field) along with eight rebounds.

GAME NOTES

• Geneseo, who consistently hovers in the D3 Women's Basketball Top 25 Poll rankings, shot 23 of 34 in the first half and, of the nine missed shots, they cleared six offensive rebounds,  outscoring Hilbert 38-10 in the paint.  The Knights finished the game with an impressive 54.7% from the floor with 58 points earned the paint.
• Hilbert connected on 18-61 from floor (29.5%) hitting only 4 of 19 from deep but sank 9-of-11 from the charity stripe.  The Hawks pulled down 14 offensive rebounds and finished with 17 second-chance points.
• For as effective as the hosts were offensively, Hilbert displayed aggressive on-ball defense and forced 14 turnovers, many in closely guarded positioning.

WHAT'S NEXT

Hilbert will host their Home Opener this Tuesday, November 12 when they welcome Oswego State to the Hafner Recreation Center.  Prior to the 7pm tip, the Hawks will honor the 2018-19 women's basketball team with an AMCC Championship Ring ceremony and the presentation of the Athletic Department's Sal Buscaglia Coach of the Year award to Amy Senefelder and staff at 6:40 pm.

Be sure to stay up-to-date on all your Hilbert Hawk scores and awards by following @HilbertAthletic on Twitter and by liking the "Hilbert College Athletics" Facebook page.   Additionally fans of the Hawks who have an Apple device can receive push notification from  Hilbert College Hawks iOS SideArm mobile App which can be found in the Apple Store and in ITunes.