GENESEO, NY - The Brockport Women's Basketball team (18-7, 13-2 E8) closed out the regular season in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night, overcoming a late deficit to secure a 73-71 road victory over SUNY Geneseo. The win extends the Golden Eagles' momentum as they head into the postseason having won 12 of their last 13 games.

Game Breakdown

The contest was a physical, back-and-forth affair that saw four lead changes and three ties. Brockport found themselves playing catch-up early, trailing the Knights 36-34 at the halftime intermission despite a strong 22-point first-quarter showing.

A major factor in the Golden Eagles' success was their disciplined ball security and stifling defensive pressure. Brockport excelled at taking care of the rock, committing only six turnovers the entire game. In contrast, their active defense hounded Geneseo into 14 miscues while racking up a massive 11-3 advantage in steals. This efficiency allowed the Green and Gold to maintain extra possessions in a game decided by a single bucket.

The Golden Eagles' offense found its rhythm in the third quarter, outscoring Geneseo 24-16 to take a 58-52 lead into the final frame. However, the Knights orchestrated a massive 13-4 run to erase the lead and knot the game at 65-65. Momentum stayed with the home team as Geneseo surged ahead 71-68 late in the period.

The Final Minute

With 26 seconds remaining and Brockport trailing by three, Mandy Brink hit a cold-blooded three-pointer off an assist from Stephanie Jean-Baptiste to tie the game at 71-71.

Geneseo had the chance to take the final shot, but Brink turned from playmaker to defensive specialist, drawing a huge charge with just 3 seconds left on the clock. The turnover gave Brockport possession back, setting the stage for the finale. On the final play, SJB drove to the rack and finished a game-winning scoop layup to seal the 73-71 victory.

Bench Scoring

Ava Howie and Casey Mahony were excellent off the bench, providing strong all-around production and perfect shooting from beyond the arc (2-2). Mahony would add five points on perfect shooting (2-2), with Mahony finishing with eight points on three of four shooting. The pair would each add three rebounds and an assist each in strong outings. 

The Triple Threat

The Golden Eagles' offense was powered by a three-headed attack, with Mandy Brink, Stephanie Jean-Baptiste, and Brianna Carey all surpassing the 15-point threshold.

Mandy Brink anchored the backcourt with a game-high 19 points, including a lethal four-of-eight performance from beyond the arc. The veteran guard showcased her versatility and composure by adding four rebounds, four assists, and four steals to her standout performance, including the game-altering defensive stop in the final seconds.

Stephanie Jean-Baptiste served as the engine of the offense and delivered the night's ultimate "clutch" moment. SJB finished with 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds, an evening punctuated by her game-winning scoop layup in the final seconds of regulation.

Rounding out the trio, Brianna Carey provided essential floor spacing and scoring, recording 16 points of her own while shooting 3-of-8 from deep. Carey was also perfect from the charity stripe, going three-for-three, while contributing two rebounds and two assists to the winning effort.

Up Next: No. 2 Brockport will host No. 7 Elmira for the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament on Saturday, February 21st. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 PM at Jim and John Vlogianitis Gymnasium.