Utica, NY – The Elmira College Women's Basketball team lost a tightly fought game Saturday afternoon to host Utica College, 82-76. The win improves the Pioneers to 2-4 in Empire 8 play, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 2-4 in conference.
The game would go back and forth throughout the beginning of the game with no one getting more than a two point lead. At the 15:39 mark Utica would try to go on a quick run, but Alex Balara '15 (Marlton, NJ -- Gloucester Catholic) would hit a big three pointer that would tie things up at 16. The Pioneers would go on another 12-6 run to go ahead 29-22 at with a little over six minutes to go till half. Balara would hit a jumper to bring the lead to within four, but the Pioneers would hold off EC's surge and remain ahead at the half 41-29. Balara and Jessica Zoltowski '14 (Erie, PA -- Harbor Creek) would lead the Soaring Eagles in scoring combining for 20 points.
In the start of the second half the Pioneers looked to keep their lead and try to stretch it out more. However, the Soaring Eagles would not quit making several jumpers and three pointers to cut the Pioneers lead down to 10. Near the six minute mark the Soaring Eagles would pull the game within four points. Utica would make a quick jumper to go up, but Zoltowski would have other ideas and complete a three point play cutting into the lead. At the 3:50 mark Darcy James '12 (Castile, NY -- Letchworth Central) would hit a huge jumper to tie the game at 68. In the end however, Utica's Meghan Fiore would make some key shots for the Pioneers holding off the Soaring Eagles and win 82-76.
EC would finish the game shooting an incredible 48% from the field, 31% from beyond the arc and 100% from the free throw line. Zoltowski and Balara would lead EC in scoring combing for 48 points as well as contributing 10 rebounds, three assists, five steals and three blocks. Maria Thannhauser '14 (Newfield, NY -- Newfield) and Liz Forrest '14 (North Walpole, NH -- Fall Mountain) also contributed to EC's scoring. Thannhauser recorded 10 points and six rebounds, while Forrest tallied eight points and three rebounds.
The Elmira College Women's Basketball team returns to action Tuesday, January 24th when they host Alfred University at 6:00 p.m. in the Speidel Gymnasium.
