Score: Hartwick College 57 – Elmira College 35
Records: Hartwick (4-5, 1-0 E8), Elmira (3-5, 0-1 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- It was a tough shooting night to open the 2017 portion of the season for the Elmira College women's basketball team, as misfires from the field resulted in a 57-35 setback to Harwick College in both team's Empire 8 Conference opener. The Soaring Eagles were held to a mere 16.9 field-goal percentage on 10-of-59 shooting from the floor, including a 1-for-20 mark from 3-point range, both of which were season lows.
 
Elmira's struggles from the field began in the opening half, as the Purple and Gold went 0-for-13 from the field in the first quarter and just 2-for-13 in the second. Compounding EC's headaches were the team's 14 first-half turnovers, nine of which were unforced. Elmira's slow start resulted in an 18-point halftime deficit, 25-7.
 
The second half proved to be much of the same, as the Hawks went up by as many as 32 points, before EC closed the gap in the final 10 seconds of regulation for a 57-35 loss.
 
Rachel Vespucci '19 was two rebounds shy of logging her fifth consecutive double-double with 11 points and eight boards. Vesupucci's former high school teammate, Danielle Cleary '18, was just one board away from collecting her second double-double of the year with 10 points and nine rebounds. All 10 of Cleary's points came in the second half.
 
Turning Point
Elmira's inability to find its rhythm from the floor was ultimately the team's downfall this evening. EC missed its first 14 attempts of the game, seven of those misses coming from inside the paint. The Soaring Eagles finished with a season-low shooting percentage from the field (16.9%) and from 3-point range (5.0%).
 
Inside the Box Score

• The Soaring Eagles went 10-for-59 (16.9%) from the floor.
• Hartwick shot 22-for-56 (39.3%) from the field.
• Both programs struggled from behind the arc, as EC hit 1-of-20 (5.0%) 3-point attempts and the Hawks made 5-of-15 (33.3%) shots from distance.
• The Soaring Eagles went 14-for-23 from the charity strip, while Hartwick was 8-for-15.
• Hartwick won the battle on the boards, 47-to-38.
• Elmira was out assisted 12-to-2.
• Hartwick committed 22 turnovers, compared to EC's 18.
• Defensively, both teams registered five blocks.
• Vespucci paced all EC scores with 11 points, while also pulling down eight boards.
• Cleary was EC's only other double-digit scorer with 10 points.
• Cleary also led the Purple and Gold with nine rebounds.
• Lindsey Heaton '19 recorded Elmira's only two assists.
• Jacqui Foreman produced a monster double-double for the Hawks with 13 points and 16 rebounds.

 
News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles' overall record fell to 3-5.
• EC lost its third straight conference opener.
• Tonight's loss was Elmira's first at Speidel Gymnasium since a February 5th meeting with Utica College last season.
• Hartwick's 22 turnovers were the second most recorded by an Elmira opponent this season.
• Vespucci fell two rebounds shy of extending her four-game streak of double-doubles.
• Cleary was one rebound short of recording her second double-double of the season.
• Rookies Isabella Delisanti '20 and Bridget Yaw '20 made their collegiate debuts for Elmira.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to bounce back from today's setback on Thursday, January 5th, when the Soaring Eagles travel to face undefeated SUNY Geneseo (9-0). Tip-off for Thursday's non-conference bout is set for 7:00 p.m. at Geneseo's Carl Schrader Gymnasium.