CRESSON, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team was handed a 61-36 defeat at the hands of SUNY Geneseo on Saturday afternoon, during the second and final day of the Mountain Valley Tip-Off Classic at Mount Aloysius College's Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center.

SUNY Geneseo (2-0) built a first half lead, then grew it throughout the second half to post the win over Penn State Altoona (0-3).

Alexis Cannistraci (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) led the Lions in points and rebounds, scoring 15 points while grabbing six rebounds, and she also recorded two steals. Emma Kitko (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley) added six points and had two steals, while Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) added five points off the bench.

Hannah Stockman scored 13 points for Geneseo, while Lauren Romito added 12 points and Kelly McLaughlin scored 11. Kerry Dennin secured a game-high 10 rebounds for the Knights.

Three-pointers by Cannistraci and Kitko in the first quarter helped trim an early Geneseo lead to one, 9-8, and Megan Hartman's (Claysburg, PA/Claysburg-Kimmel) basket at 5:03 put Penn State Altoona up 10-9. Two foul shots from Cannistraci late in the quarter kept the difference at one, 13-12, but McLaughlin's late score gave Geneseo a 15-12 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Geneseo broke the game open with a big second quarter, during which it outscored Penn State Altoona 18-7 to construct a 33-19 halftime lead. The Knights went on to post a 28-17 scoring advantage over the Lions in the second half.

Penn State Altoona women's basketball returns to action this upcoming Thursday, November 18, when they hit the road to face non-conference opponent Penn College at 6:00 p.m.