Elmira College (6-12, 3-6 Empire 8) vs. Stevens Institute of Technology (11-5, 7-0 Empire 8)
Saturday, January 30, 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Canavan Arena – Hoboken, NJ
Live Coverage | Game Notes

Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College women's basketball team will make the four-hour trip to Hoboken, NJ, to duel the Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday, January 30th. Opening tip is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Last Time Out
The Soaring Eagles had their brief two-game win streak snapped Wednesday by Empire 8 Conference foe Ithaca College by a final of 63-42. The Elmira offense struggled from the get-go, turning the ball over on its first five possessions. The Bombers scored the game's first seven points to grab a lead they would never relinquish. EC shot a subpar 27.6-percent (16-for-58) from the floor. In addition, Elmira made it to the line only seven times with four makes, while Ithaca finished 24-for-37 from the charity stripe. The Soaring Eagles did, however, find their stroke from three-point range, as EC's six made three-pointers marked the most in a single game since the Soaring Eagles made eight in the win over Hilbert College on November 24th. Danielle Cleary '18 and Emily Green '18 each scored 13 points to pace the offense.

Battle on the Boards
While the Soaring Eagles hold a plus-1.3 rebound margin on the season, Elmira suffered through a six-game stretch where the opposition out-muscled EC on the glass. During that span, EC's opponents averaged 7.7 more rebounds per game, and Elmira went just 1-5 in those contests. However, in the four games since, Elmira holds a plus-5.3 average margin per game. In addition, EC has hauled in 43 rebounds in each of the last three contests, the first streak with 40-plus boards this season. So far in the 2015-16 campaign, Elmira is 4-3 when out-rebounding its opponents.

No. 200
Although Cleary only had one attempt from the foul line against Ithaca, she converted her lone opportunity. That make was the 200th successful free throw of her career, making her one of only seven players in program history to register 200-or-more foul shots. The second-year guard from Rochester, NY, needs only six more to equal former teammate Alex Balara '15 for sixth place on the all-time charts. Through the first 18 games of her sophomore campaign, Cleary has made 91 free throws, the most in the Empire 8, while she ranks 18th in all of Division III.

Magic Number
The magic number for Elmira's defense – 60. When EC's opponents score less than 60 points, Elmira is a perfect 6-0. However, the Purple and Gold are 0-12 when the opposition scores 60 or more. Looking back to the start of the 2012-13 season, it is even more evident that the Soaring Eagles must limit opponents to less than 60 points a game. EC is 35-10 when the defense holds opponents under 60 points, but is only 6-43 when giving up more over the last three-plus seasons.

Series History vs. Stevens
The history between Elmira and Stevens has not been too kind to the Soaring Eagles. EC has defeated the Ducks only once in 17 matchups since Stevens became a member of the Empire 8 Conference in the 2007-08 season. Earlier this year, Elmira dropped a 70-55 decision to the Ducks in EC's conference opener at Speidel Gymnasium.

Scouting Stevens
The Ducks enter this weekend's contest with an 11-5 overall record and a 7-0 mark inside the Empire 8. Stevens takes on St. John Fisher College (14-2, 7-0) on Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Hoboken, NJ, with the winner taking sole possession atop the conference standings. Three of Stevens' five losses on the year have come against nationally-ranked teams, including a 74-54 loss to No. 9/11 Muhlenberg College on January 18th. More recently, the Ducks overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to score a 66-61 win over Nazareth College on January 22nd. Senior guards Kaitlyn Astel and Miranda Ripken have started all 16 games for Stevens and lead the team in scoring with 13.4 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. Sophomore Megan Brown ranks third in points (9.1) and paces the squad with 8.8 rebounds per game, 33 steals, and 20 blocks. Stevens is the best defensive team in the E8, limiting opponents to a league-low 55.9 points per game and hauling in a league-high 43.6 boards per contest.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return home for three games in five days, beginning with an 8:00 p.m. matchup with Utica College on Friday, February 5th, at 8:00 p.m. at Speidel Gymnasium.  The following afternoon, EC will celebrate the Class of 2016 with Senior Recognition Day when it hosts Hartwick College at 4:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center as part of Athletic Alumni Weekend.