HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Despite a hard-fought effort by the Houghton University Highlanders women's basketball team, the Highlanders came up short in the Empire 8 Championship game, falling 66-52 to the SUNY Geneseo Knights at the Nielsen Center in Houghton on Saturday afternoon.
Geneseo jumped out to an early advantage and maintained control throughout, leading by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter. Houghton battled back in spurts but couldn't sustain a run long enough to overtake the visitors.
Highlander Highlights
Senior forward Tabitha DeVries led Houghton with a hard-nosed all-around performance, finishing with 17 points on a team-high 8 made field goals and adding 7 rebounds. DeVries fought inside all afternoon, frequently drawing contact and challenging Geneseo's shot blockers. Despite facing a stout defense, she remained Houghton's focal point on offense. DeVries currently stands at 999 career points.
Guard/forward Olivia Simser contributed 9 points and 6 rebounds, battling inside and securing second-chance opportunities. Her physical play helped Houghton stay competitive on the glass against a bigger Geneseo frontcourt.
Point guard Crysta LaCrosse added 6 points, dishing out one assist and logging minutes with poise. While shots didn't fall as frequently as in prior outings, LaCrosse's leadership steered Houghton through full-court pressure and late-game surge attempts.
Supporting Contributors
-
Teghan Trocki chipped in 6 points, giving Houghton a spark in transition.
-
Emma Huedepohl added 5 points, providing energetic defensive minutes.
-
Hannah Farley also scored 6 points in limited minutes, showcasing depth on the roster.
Geneseo's Balanced Attack
Geneseo spread the scoring across multiple threats. Grace Galgano and Audrey Hintz were the top producers with 16 points each, while Maggie McGrane added 14. Their efficient shooting — including nearly 43% from the floor and strong free throw pressure — helped the Knights weather every Highlander push.
Key Takeaways
-
Houghton showed its trademark tenacity, yet struggled to find consistent rhythm offensively, shooting just over 32% from the field.
-
Geneseo's balanced scoring and strong decision-making limited the Highlanders' comeback chances, especially late in the second half.
-
The Highlanders' defense created turnovers and transition chances, but Houghton couldn't convert enough of these into points to flip the game's momentum.
Season Context
Despite the loss in the championship, Houghton will await word on a potential berth in the NCCAA National Tournament. Their current record of 22–6 record has them in the midst of one of the most successful seasons in program history, highlighted by their regular-season win over Geneseo earlier in the year and deep postseason run.
