Score: Stevens Institute of Technology 68 – Elmira College 53
Records: Stevens (3-6, 2-0 E8), Elmira (3-7, 0-2 E8)
Location: Canavan Arena – Hoboken, N.J.
 
HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Rachel Vespucci '19 played the game of her life, as the sophomore forward set new career highs in both points (20) and rebounds (18). Despite this monster performance, the Elmira College women's basketball team fell at the hands of Stevens Institute of Technology, 68-53, on Saturday afternoon.  

Vespucci's strong play started from the opening tip, as she fell two points shy of recording a double-double in the first 20 minutes of action. The Macedon, New York, native was EC's lone source of offensive production early on, as she scored eight of the Soaring Eagles' 13 opening half points. As a team, the Soaring Eagles shot 5-for-29 (17.2-percent) in the first half.

Stevens also struggled from the field, as the Ducks went 11-for-32 (34.4-percent) in the half. This slight edge in shooting efficiency gave Stevens the opportunity to take a 28-13 halftime lead.

However, EC did not let its early struggles keep it down for the rest of the game, as the Soaring Eagles went on an 18-8 run in the third quarter to pull within eight points. Marissa Silverman '17 sparked the run with a jumper at the 5:49 mark of the third. In the next four-and-a-half minutes, Elmira pulled the deficit to 43-35, the first time since the opening quarter that the lead was below double digits. Vespucci led the way for the Soaring Eagles with six of her 20 points coming in the run.

Unfortunately for Elmira, the Ducks went on a 7-2 run to end the third to take a 50-37 lead going into the fourth. Stevens rode this momentum to a 59-40 lead at the 6:27 mark of the fourth quarter, its largest of the contest. The Ducks maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the matchup on their way to the 68-53 win.  

Lindsey Heaton '19 joined Vespucci as the two double-digit scorers for the Purple and Gold. The standout guard recorded 12 points and five assists. Heaton did a majority of her damage from the charity stripe, as she went 7-for-11 from the free-throw line.
 
Turing Point
After struggling to find their stroke in the first half, the Soaring Eagles started hitting their shots in the third quarter. In a four-and-a-half minute stretch of the period, EC drew the Ducks lead to a manageable eight points, 43-35, the closest that the game had been since the first quarter. Stevens was quick to answer, going on their own 7-2 run to cap off the period. Just like that, all of the momentum that Elmira had gained quickly dissipated. EC could not get another run started in the fourth on its way to the 68-53 loss.

Inside the Box Score

• The Soaring Eagles struggled to find their shot for most of the contest, going 18-for-57 (31.6%) from the floor.
• Stevens did not shoot the ball much better, shooting 25-for-65 (38.5%) from the field.
• The rebounding totals for the game finished very close, as the Ducks slightly edged EC 45-43.
• Both programs struggled to control the ball, as Elmira finished with 26 turnovers and Stevens ended the game with 23.
• The Ducks out-assisted the Soaring Eagles 16-12.
• Vespucci recorded a monster double-double with 20 points and 18 rebounds.
• Her impressive effort started early, as she posted eight points and 10 rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
• Heaton was Elmira's only other double-digit scorer with 12 points, while also pacing the team with her five assists.
• Stevens employed a balanced offensive effort, as four different Ducks scored in double-digits.
• Kaitlyn Astel paced Stevens with 14 points.
• The Ducks' Megan Brown finished just one rebound behind Vespucci with 17.

News and Notes

• Elmira's overall record falls to 3-6 on the season.
• The Soaring Eagles remain winless in the Empire 8 Conference, 0-2.
• Vespucci's 20 points and 18 rebounds are both new career highs.
• The last Soaring Eagle to grab 18 boards was Lauren Wholley '06 against Nazareth College on January 6th, 2006.
• Vespucci recorded the first 20-point 18-rebound game for the Purple and Gold since former Empire 8 Player of the Year Jennifer Parker '06 posted 30 points and 18 rebounds against Utica College on January 24th, 2004.
• Vespucci's 20-point game is the first by an Elmira player since Emily Green '18 scored 21 against SUNY Cortland in December of this season.
• EC's 26 turnovers are tied for the most that it has committed this season.
• Elmira's 43 points are tied for the third most that it has scored this year.  

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will look to pick up their first E8 win of the season when they square off against the Cardinals of St. John Fisher on Tuesday, January 10th. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 6:00 p.m.