WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Geneva College women's basketball team came from behind to capture a season-opening victory over Stevenson on Friday night at the McDaniel Rebecca Martin Memorial Tip-Off, 71-68, with sophomore Aizlyn Thompson hitting the game-winning three-pointer with less than a minute remaining to send the Golden Tornadoes to victory.  The win sends the women into the championship game of the tip-off where Geneva will face the hosts, McDaniel College, tomorrow night.  The win was Geneva's first season-opening victory in a non-COVID season since 2014.

Freshman Destanie McCullough scored the opening points of the season for the Golden Tornadoes a minute and a half into the game to even the score at 2-2, but Stevenson scored the next eight points.  However, Geneva immediately responded with nine straight points.  Freshman Jessie Moon laid one in, Thompson hit a jumper, senior Mackenzie Barricklow scored on a drive to the hoop, and junior Emily Garvin scored her first points as a Golden Tornado on a three-pointer to give the Golden Tornadoes its first lead, 11-10.

Stevenson scored the final two points of the quarter, though, and Geneva wouldn't lead again until the end of the contest.  The Golden Tornadoes hung close, though, for most of the second quarter despite never regaining the lead, and two free throws from junior Anna Ulmer pulled Geneva within 29-28 two minutes before halftime.  However, the Mustangs scored the final seven points of the second quarter to take a 36-28 lead into the break.

Stevenson carried that momentum into the third quarter and opened up its biggest lead of the game, 44-32, three minutes into the second half before Geneva slowly began to rally.  Freshman Arionna White knocked down a three-pointer to begin the comeback, and four minutes later a three-pointer from Thompson and two free throws from Ulmer pulled the Golden Tornadoes within 51-47, sending Geneva into the final quarter trailing by four.

Barricklow opened the final frame with a three-pointer to close the deficit to 53-52, but seven quick points by Stevenson restored an eight-point lead for the Mustangs, 60-52. 

Back-to-back layups from Garvin gave Geneva some momentum back, and a minute later, a three-pointer from Thompson pulled the Golden Tornadoes within 61-59.  Stevenson pushed the lead back to six points, 65-59, but back-to-back buckets from Ulmer kept Geneva close.  Stevenson's final points of the game came with just over two minutes left to give the Mustangs a 68-63 lead.  However, Thompson responded with her third three-pointer of the game, and 30 seconds later Garvin scored at the rim to knot the score at 68-68 with 1:28 remaining, the first time Geneva hadn't trailed since midway through the first quarter.

Both teams traded empty possessions before Garvin found Thompson on the wing, and Thompson's three-pointer rolled in, back out, and then back in with 48 seconds remaining for what proved to be the game-winning bucket.  Stevenson was unable to respond in the final minute and Geneva held on for the 71-68 comeback victory.

Thompson and Garvin led the women with 14 points apiece, with Garvin stuffing the stat sheet while adding seven rebounds, four assists and four steals to her scoring output in her Geneva debut.  Barricklow finished with a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Ulmer chipped in with eight points.  Geneva shot 25-of-76 (32.9%) from the floor, 9-of-31 (29%) from long range, but the Golden Tornadoes forced 33 Stevenson turnover to help generate their offense.

Geneva will face McDaniel, who defeated Gallaudet 75-54 in the first game of the day, tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. in the tip-off championship game.