Oneonta, NY -- With the game tied at 52-52 with 1:46 left in regulation time, the Elmira College women's basketball team (6-7, 3-3 E8) used a game-ending 7-4 run to defeat Empire 8 Conference opponent Hartwick College (4-10, 2-3 E8) 59-56. Three players scored double-digits for the EC women today. Danielle Cleary '18 led all with 16 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals in the win.

Meghan Loya '16 tied a season-high of 14 points and added seven points while Alex Balara '15 posted 10 points, four steals, three rebounds, and two assists today. The Purple and Gold also posted a season-high 47.7 percent field goal percentage in the game.

Balara kicked off the game with a jumper 1:04 into the game while Loya made a jumper of her own 43 seconds later to give Elmira a quick 4-0 lead. The Hawks answered back with four points of their own to tie the game up at 4-4. The EC women traded baskets with Hartwick until the game was tied at 8-8. Elmira then went on a 7-2 run, capped off with a Cleary three-pointer to take a 17-10 lead with 10:44 left in the first half. The Hawks chipped away at the Purple and Gold's lead until they trailed by only three points with 6:34 left in the half. Cleary then drained back-to-back three pointers to give the Soaring Eagles a nine point lead. Hartwick then scored the game's next seven points to cut the EC lead to just two with 3:10 left. Elmira then finished the first half on a 7-2 run to take a 31-24 lead heading into the locker room.

Hartwick slowly chipped away at the Purple and Gold's lead until the game was tied up at 46-46 with 7:25 left in regulation time. Both teams traded baskets as the lead was tied five more times in the half until the game was tied up at 52-52 with 1:46 left. Hartwick then took a one point lead that was answered by a Cleary three-pointer to give Elmira a two point lead. With 10 seconds left, the Hawks were at the foul line and made a shot to cut EC's lead to one point. Cleary then drained two foul shots to give the Soaring Eagles a 57-54 lead with eight seconds left. With one second left, Hartwick put up a three to try and tie the game but missed and settled for two points. Kelsey Geisler '15 took the pass in and was fouled and made two free throws to win, 59-56.

The Soaring Eagles will compete next tomorrow, January 17th against Stevens Institute of Technology in another Empire 8 Conference matchup in Hoboken, NJ at 3:00 p.m.