Empire 8 Champion SUNY Geneseo Falls To Washington University In First Round of 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tourney

Knights finish the season 20-9 and win the Empire 8 Championship for the second straight season

SUNY Geneseo Athletic Communications

Women's Basketball | 3/6/2026 8:14:00 PM

DELAWARE, OHIO - The SUNY Geneseo women's basketball team saw its season come to an end on Friday evening, falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament to WashU 65-53. The Knights finish the season with an overall record of 20-9, the program's eighth conference title and second-straight in the Empire 8, and the 13th appearance in the NCAA tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Geneseo and WashU were neck-and-neck throughout the first quarter. The Knights opened the frame with an edge, but WashU quickly closed the gap. Maggie McGrane sank a jumper with about a minute remaining to give the Knights the lead, but WashU made a layup with 17 seconds left to tie the game at 17 heading into the second quarter.
  • To start the second quarter, Grace Galgano quickly scored four points to give the Knights some breathing room. However, WashU kept the pressure on Geneseo and took a 32-27 lead going into the half.
  • Geneseo found their momentum early in the third quarter, with Audrey Hintz making back-to-back two-pointers to stay on the heels of WashU. The Knights continued to stay within striking distance for the rest of the frame, only trailing 47-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
  • WashU came out swinging in the fourth quarter and the Knights couldn't mount a comeback, falling 65-53.
QUICK FACTS:
  • Galgano totaled 11 points, finishing the season with a team-high 346. 
  • Hintz led the offensive effort with 14 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field.
  • Defensively, the Knights were outstanding at guarding the paint, limiting the Bears leading scorer, #33 Lexy Harris, to just 10 points, her lowest point total of the season when playing at least 22 minutes of game time.