MARCY, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Women's Basketball Team (11-5, 7-1 NEAC) improved its home record on the year to 6-3 Tuesday night with a win over local rival Hamilton College (7-10). The Wildcats shot 50% from the field to earn the victory, their highest percentage of the year.

Lauren Knowles (Salisbury Mills, N.Y. / Washingtonville) had a monster game for the home team, recording a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Knowles was on fire in the second half especially, scoring 15 of her points in the period while going an impressive 7-for-7 from the field.

Senior leader Abbey Hanehan (Stillwater, N.Y. / Stillwater) also had an impressive game, scoring 17 points while tallying 8 rebounds.

SUNYIT was up by eight at the half and maintained a comfortable lead throughout most of the second half. With 2:48 remaining in the game the Wildcats held a 13-point lead. At that point the Continentals began to foul, and were able to cut the lead to 9 with 1:10 to play. A number of free throws by Emily Alicea (Moohegan Lake, N.Y. / Lakeland) and Hanehan –both of whom finished 6-for-9 from the charity stripe – helped preserve the win for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats put five players in double-figures, as Geena Gallo (Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa) finished with 13 points, Tierney McGlynn (Watervliet, N.Y. / Watervliet) added 12 points, and Ashley Cox (Bronx, N.Y. / Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics) came off the bench to score 10.

The scoring for the Continentals, on the other hand, was more concentrated. Dani Feigin poured in 29 points, including a 6-for-17 performance from behind the arc, and Samantha Graber added 20 points to go along with a team-high 8 rebounds.

The Wildcats will return to conference play with a road contest at Penn State Berks this Friday. Game time is set for 8:00 pm.