Score: Houghton College 65 – Elmira College 44
Records: Houghton (10-10, 4-7 E8), Elmira (6-14, 2-9 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's basketball team couldn't hold onto an early lead and suffered a 65-44 defeat at the hands of Houghton College in Empire 8 Conference action at Speidel Gymnasium.

Not only was Saturday part of EC's 35th Annual Athletics Alumni Weekend, but it was also Class of 2017 Recognition Day. In a special pregame ceremony, the Soaring Eagles honored their lone senior, Marissa Silverman '17, who would go on to score six points with four rebounds and two assists in the second-to-last home game of her collegiate career.

Rightfully so, Silverman opened scoring in the contest with a pair of free throws, sparking a 10-4 Elmira run in the first four minutes of action. The South Windsor, Connecticut, native then halted a Houghton 5-0 run with a successful jump shot to make it 12-9 in favor of the Soaring Eagles.

The Highlanders, however, closed the quarter with five unanswered points, including a 3-pointer from Hannah Manwaring, to take a 14-12 lead of their own. The Purple and Gold battled back to even the score at both 16- and 18-all, and Rachel Vespucci '19 helped EC regain the lead, 20-18, with a second-chance put back off of a missed 3-pointer.

Elmira last led by one point, 22-21, following a Danielle Cleary '18 bucket at the four-minute mark of the second quarter, as Houghton closed the half with a 10-2 run and held a 31-24 cushion at the halftime break. The Soaring Eagles came within five points of the lead on a handful of occasions in the third, but were outscored by a wide margin, 16-3, in the fourth quarter. In the final 10 minutes, EC shot a mere 1-for-13 from the floor and coughed up a trio of turnovers.

Turning Point
Late in the third quarter, the Highlanders received three points from second-year guard Leslie Moose on a successful and-one, which extended Houghton's advantage to 46-38 with 1:11 to play in the period. On the other end of the court, Lindsey Heaton '19 trimmed the deficit back down to five points with a clutch 3-pointer, but that's as close as the Purple and Gold would come for the remainder of the game. On the ensuing possession, Moose struck again, this time with a trey from the left corner for the first three points of what turned into a decisive 13-0 run by the Highlanders.

Inside the Box Score

• Houghton was 28-for-61 from the floor (45.9 percent).
• Elmira was 15-for-49 from the field (30.6 percent).
• The Soaring Eagles made 2-of-13 attempts from 3-point range (15.4 percent).
• Houghton knocked down 4-of-14 makes from distance (28.6 percent).
• Elmira was 12-of-22 (54.5 percent) from the charity stripe, while Houghton went 5-for-12 (41.7 percent).
• Houghton held a 43-to-26 lead on the boards.
• EC committed 15 turnovers, while Houghton turned it over 14 times.
• Seven of Elmira's turnovers were a result of Houghton steals, while EC finished with three steals.
• Vespucci paced the Purple and Gold with 12 points and 10 rebounds, both team highs.
• Cleary finished with eight points, seven boards and two assists.
• Heaton logged eight points, two assists and one steal.
• Franklin came off the bench to score eight points and grab three rebounds.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira dropped its fourth consecutive game of the season to fall to 6-14 on the year.
• Vespucci produced her 11th double-double of the 2016-17 campaign.
• Vespucci's 11 double-doubles are tied with Jennifer Parker '06 for the most by a Soaring Eagle in the last 15 years. Parker posted 11 double-doubles during her run to the 2003-04 Empire 8 Player of the Year Award.
• Vespucci has pulled down double-digit rebounds in nine of EC's last 11 contests.
• Cleary is now just three 3-pointers away from tying Sarah Cote '06 for fifth-place all-time in career treys.
• After going 4-for-4 from the charity stripe against Houghton, Franklin extended her streak of consecutive free throws without a miss to 15, dating back to the January 21st bout with Ithaca College.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action this Tuesday, February 7th, when the Soaring Eagles make the short trip up Route 13 to face Empire 8 Conference foe Ithaca College. Tuesday's tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.