Score: Stevens Institute of Technology 70, Elmira College 55
Records: Stevens (6-3, 2-0 E8), Elmira (3-7, 0-1 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY

Elmira, NY-- The Elmira College women's basketball team dropped its 2015-16 Empire 8 Conference opener, 70-55, against Stevens Institute of Technology at Speidel Gymnasium on Monday.

Although the Soaring Eagles outscored the Ducks 35-25 in the second half, a bleak first-half performance doomed the Purple and Gold from the start. After the first quarter of play, the Ducks held a 20-5 advantage.

In the first quarter, EC shot a mere 16.7 percent (2-for-12) from the field and turned the ball over seven times. After a layup from Meghan Loya '16 made the score 9-5 in favor of Stevens with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Ducks went on to score the last 11 points of the period to take a lead the Soaring Eagles would never threaten.

Stevens led 45-20 at the halftime intermission.

In the second half, the Soaring Eagles compiled a 41.2 field-goal percentage (14-for-34), nearly 10 points better than the Ducks. Defensively, the Soaring Eagles recorded five of their seven steals in the second half and scored 13 points off of Stevens' turnovers.

Second-year guard Danielle Cleary '18 scored 12 of her team-high 14 points in the second half; she made two of her three attempts from beyond the arc and all four free throws in the final 20 minutes.

EC ended the game on a 9-0 run to reduce the deficit to 15 points. Cleary scored seven points in the final two minutes, including a three-pointer with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jenn Gale '18 then stripped Stevens guard Elena Sanchez and went the distance for a layup to cap off the run.

Turning Point
The Soaring Eagles only trailed by four points, 9-5, four minutes into the opening quarter. However, after Loya's layup at the 6:09 mark, EC finished the quarter on the wrong end of an 11-0 run. While the Purple and Gold struggled through a scoring drought lasting 7:27, the Ducks raced ahead to take a 17-point lead, 22-5, early in the second quarter.

Inside the Box

• The Ducks led 45-20 at the half, but EC held a 35-25 scoring advantage in the second half.
• Stevens finished with an overall field-goal percentage of 36.7 percent (29-for-79), only a half-point better than Elmira's 36.1 (22-for-61).
• Both teams grabbed 27 defensive boards, but Stevens finished with a 23-to-13 advantage in offensive rebounds.
• Cleary led the Soaring Eagles with 14 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists.
• Jessica Brooks '16 and Marissa Silverman '17 each scored eight points.
• Loya scored six points and led EC with nine rebounds.
• Three Ducks finished with double-digit point totals, led by Dylan Krause with 16.
• Krause and Megan Brown each recorded double-doubles for Stevens with 10 and 12 rebounds, respectively.

News and Notes

• Elmira falls to 3-7 on the year and 0-1 inside the Empire 8.
• Stevens is now 16-1 all-time against EC since joining the E8.
• Stevens' 79 field-goal attempts are the most attempted by the opposition in a single game since Ithaca College threw up 85 shots from the field on January 9, 2007.
• The 50 rebounds and seven blocks recorded by the Ducks are the most by an Elmira opponent in both categories during a single game in the 2015-16 season.
• Cleary tied her career high with five assists and has double-digit points in eight of 10 games this season.

Up Next
The Elmira College women's basketball team returns to Speidel Gymnasium on Friday, January 8th, at 8:00 p.m. when the Soaring Eagles host St. John Fisher College in Empire 8 Conference action.