GENESEO, N.Y. – Three members of the Geneseo women’s basketball team (20-7) have been named to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) all-star team, including senior guard Melissa Graham (East Orchard/Mount Mercy), who was named the conference’s Player of the Year, and first year forward Allison McKenna (Huntington/John Glenn), who was picked as Rookie of the Year. Graham was named to the first team, sophomore forward Shannon McGinnis (Walworth/Gananda) was a second-team selection and McKenna was a third-team all star.

No team had more players named to the all-conference team.

Graham is Geneseo’s third SUNYAC Player of the Year, joining all-Americans Katie Smith (1994 and 1995) and Megan Mackey (1996). She makes her second appearance on the all-conference team after earning third-team honors last winter. Graham led the Knights in scoring (12.1 ppg), assists (3.0 apg) and steals (1.3 spg) while pulling down 8.1 rpg and blocking 28 shots (both second on the team). She ranked in the top 10 in the SUNYAC in five categories: second in assist/turnover ratio (1.4), third in rebounding, fourth in assists, eighth in blocked shots and ninth in scoring.

“Melissa's unselfishness as a senior leader on such a young team was recognized by opposing conference coaches and I could not be happier for her,” said Geneseo coach Scott Hemer. “Her willingness to contribute in all areas of the game -- not just scoring – is what separated her from the other candidates and that’s a tribute to who she is as a player and,  more importantly, as a person.”

Graham is Geneseo’s leader with 115 career blocked shots and ranks eighth all-time with 1,042 points. She also ranks among the program leaders in rebounding (third with 733), assists (ninth with 295), three-point baskets (ninth with 88) and steals (14th with 156).

McKenna is the second consecutive Knight honored as Rookie of the Year (McGinnis was the 2012 winner) and the third overall. She started all but one game, averaging 11.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game – both figures were third on the team. Her team-leading total of 59 blocked shots (which included a school-record seven in one game) set a school single-season record and already ranks seventh on the program’s all-time list. McKenna shot a team-best 51.3 percent from the floor and her 47.1 three-point field-goal percentage was Geneseo’s highest figure.  She ranked second in the conference in blocked shots and was eighth in rebounding and 11th in scoring.

“Allison did a tremendous job this season of stepping right into the fire as a first year student-athlete,” praised Hemer.  “Not only did she show a level of poise that most rookies struggle to achieve, but at times she showed maturity well beyond her years and that’s what ultimately earned her this award. She led all SUNYAC rookies in numerous statistical categories and she toppled several school records in just her first year which was truly impressive.”

McGinnis was the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and a third-team all star last season and was also named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year. She led the team and the league with 8.7 rpg. Her 35 three-point baskets also led the team and her 11.8 ppg and 33 steals both ranked second. McGinnis was the SUNYAC’s 10th-leading scorer and ranked 11th in rebounding.

“Being named both SUNYAC and ECAC Rookie of the Year in 2012 meant Shannon had added pressure as a sophomore to take the next step,” explained Hemer. “Not only was Shannon able to do that on the court by leading the conference in rebounding, she was asked to be a leader which is quite a challenge at this point of her career. She answered the bell in both areas and I'm very proud of her for that.”

In two years at Geneseo, McGinnis has scored 582 points and pulled down 404 rebounds while compiling 65 assists, 64 steals and 55 three-point baskets.

The Knights finished 20-7, recording their 12th 20-win season in the past 23 years. They reached the SUNYAC title game after finishing second in the regular-season standings with a 14-4 record.