Potsdam, NY -- The Elmira College women's basketball team cut a 12-point halftime deficit to just one with 8:25 to play, but Clarkson University used a 19-4 run to down the Soaring Eagles, 84-69. Alex Balara '15 made her first appearance of the season for the Purple and Gold and led all scorers with 24 points and had a game-high five steals.
 
Balara was one of three Elmira players to reach double-digits in the scoring column as she was joined by Danielle Cleary '18 and Karli Pochkar '16. Cleary turned-in a season-high 21 points and extended her double-figure scoring streak to five games. Pochkar chipped-in 11 points and recorded her first career double-double as she grabbed 10 rebounds.
 
Clarkson opened the game with a 5-0 lead, but Elmira responded with a 9-2 run to take their only lead of the game at 9-7. EC's lead was short-lived, however, as the Golden Knights went on a 10-0 run to make it a 17-9 game with 11:22 remaining in the opening half. After falling behind by nine a few minutes later, Balara knocked down her only three-pointer of the game to bring EC back within six. But, Clarkson would again go on a run, turning what was a 21-15 game into a 41-20 game in just about five minutes of game time. The Soaring Eagles, over the final 4:34 of the first half, closed the gap, using a 16-7 run to trail by 12, 48-36, at the half.
 
EC came out strong in the second half and slowly chipped away at the deficit. A three-pointer by Cleary with 16:42 to play brought the game to single-digits for the first time since the 8:09 mark of the first half, as Elmira trailed 50-42. Clarkson's lead continued to shrink and another Cleary three-pointer made it just a one-point game, 63-62, with 8:25 remaining in the game. Unfortunately for the Purple and Gold, they would not retake the lead as the Golden Knights closed the game on a 19-4 run to pull away for the 84-69 win.
 
The Soaring Eagles shot an impressive 46 percent from the field, but only hit 4-of-17 from behind the arc and 21-of-37 from the free throw line. EC's defense did generate eight steals and two blocks, but Clarkson shot 51 percent in the game and nearly 67 percent from three.
 
Elmira returns to action next Saturday, December 13th when they host SUNY Potsdam at 2:00 p.m.