Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Women's Basketball team dropped a tight game down the stretch as it fell 73-69 to visiting Utica College Saturday afternoon in Speidel Gymnasium. The win improves the Pioneers to 10-14 overall and 5-8 in Empire 8 play, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 8-16 overall and 4-9 in conference competition.

EC led by six points early as Jessica Zoltowski '14 (Erie, PA -- Harbor Creek) scored Elmira's first 12 points, converting her first five attempts from the field. The teams had eight ties in the opening 20 minutes. EC led 32-30 with just more than four minutes remaining but the Pioneers went on a 9-0 run to take a 39-32 lead. However, the Soaring Eagles responded scoring the final four points of the half, as they trailed 39-36 at intermission. Zoltowski led the Purple and Gold with 15 points in the first half, while Meghan Fiore had 12 for Utica.  

 

The Pioneers led by as many as 11 points midway through the second half, but EC battled back. The Soaring Eagles used a 9-3 run over a span of two minutes to climb within 67-65 with 2:36 remaining. Elmira remained within striking distance but Utica's Katie McGee went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 18 seconds as the Pioneers held on for the 73-69 victory.

 

Zoltowski led EC with 29 points, while Alex Balara '15 (Marlton, NJ -- Gloucester Catholic) added 14 points and Kelsey Geisler '15 (Staten Island, NY -- St. Peter's) finished with 10. Meghan Fiore was a dominant force inside finishing with 35 points and six rebounds, as she scored with ease during a second half run. McGee and Bridget Greenwald added 13 points apiece for the Pioneers.

 

The Elmira College Women's Basketball team returns to action February 18th when it travels to Alfred to take on the Saxons at 2:00 p.m.

 

Utica 73 Elmira 69