POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY Geneseo (5-3, 2-1 SUNYAC) used hot shooting in the first half to launch them to a 72-60 victory over the SUNY Potsdam women’s basketball team (4-6, 2-3) on Saturday afternoon. Five Blue Knights reached double digits. Sophomore guard Hannah Kmiecinski led the Bears with 11 points.

Geneseo used an 11-4 spurt to erase a 5-4 Potsdam lead at 14:02 and never fell behind again. A 5-0 Bear run capped by a steal and layup from freshman guard Bailey Weigel closed the gap to 20-18 with 10:29 to go in the half. Both teams continued to shoot the ball well, but the Blue Knights outpaced Potsdam and built a 45-35 lead at the half. Geneseo shot nearly 55 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes and Potsdam wasn’t far behind at 48 percent.

The Blue Knights opened the second half with a 16-5 run to open a 61-40 advantage. The Bears struggled offensively in the final period and weren’t able to make up much ground until late. Down 72-48 with 6 minutes left, Potsdam closed the contest on a 12-0 run, but ran out of time. The Bears were held to 25 percent shooting in the second half, but Geneseo kept up its torrid pace with 52 percent.

Blue Knight junior guard Melissa Graham scored a game-high 15 points and freshman forward Shannon McGinnis finished with 13. Freshman guard Katie Peterson and senior guard Katelyn Charbonneau each had 12 points and senior guard Bri Dunton rounded out Geneseo’s leaders with 10.

Weigel finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Katy Briedis and senior captain Kaley Arsenault each contributed nine as well.

Potsdam forced 20 turnovers, while only giving up the ball itself 11 times.

The Bears are off until Jan. 3, 2012, when they travel to Canton to take on St. Lawrence University at 4 p.m.