ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira college women's basketball team looks to win its second consecutive Empire 8 Conference game of the season on Tuesday, January 23, when the Soaring Eagles welcome Nazareth to Speidel Gymnasium for a league bout. The opening tip-off for the contest is slated for 8:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Elmira earned its first Empire 8 Conference win of the season by defeating Alfred University, 76-71, in Speidel Gymnasium on Tuesday, January 16. Elmira held control of the bout for much of the first half, as it owned a 37-30 heading into the halftime break. An 11-3 run at the start of the third quarter helped EC grow its advantage to a game-high-tying 15 points, 48-33, with about seven minutes left in the quarter. Despite a few runs by the Saxons, the Purple and Gold held on to the lead to take the E8 win. Elmira's balanced offensive attack featured five players who tallied 10-or-more points, led by
Sally Hogan '19 with 14.
Danielle Cleary '18 and
Rachel Vespucci '19 both registered 12 points, while
Lindsey Heaton '19 and
Emily Green '18 rounded out the group with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
BEST CONFERENCE PERFORMANCE
Tuesday's tilt against the Saxons was EC's best all-around performance in E8 play all season. The Soaring Eagles posted season-highs in conference action in field-goal percentage (40.3), points (76), rebounds (55) and assists (20). It was arguably Elmira's most well-played contest of the season, as the team excelled in all facets of the game. This conference-best performance even spread out to some of the players. The first Soaring Eagle that comes to mind is Hogan, who tallied her best scoring output (14) and shooting percentage (75.0) of the E8 slate thus far against the Saxons.
Lauren Franklin '20 was also noteworthy in the win with nine points and a season-high 13 rebounds, just shy of her second double-double of the year.
BACK TO THE BASICS
After four consecutive games with less than 40 rebounds, the Soaring Eagles have hauled in 50 boards in each of the last two games, returning to their stature as the E8's best rebounding team. Elmira paces the conference in total rebounds (46.3), defensive rebounds (30.9) and offensive rebounds per game (15.3). This rebounding resurgence has been an all-around team effort, as Heaton (9.0), Franklin (8.5) and Cleary (8.5) have all averaged at least 8.5 rebounds over the last two games.
SERIES HISTORY
Elmira and Nazareth will square off for the 63rd time today, with the Golden Flyers owning a 42-20 lead over their long-time rival. The Soaring Eagles' last win in this rivalry came during the 2013-14 campaign, when Elmira swept Nazareth in both contests that season.
SCOUTING NAZARETH
The Golden Flyers enter today's tilt with a 7-8 overall record and a 3-3 mark in conference play after falling to Hartwick, 74-66, in their most recent game on Saturday. Nazareth's calling card this season has been its shooting from distance, as it paces the league in attempted 3-pointers (20.9) and made 3-point field goals per game (6.2). At the forefront of this deep shooting charge has been senior guard Samantha Peebles, who leads the team and is tied for second in the league in made treys per game (2.3), in addition to pacing the team in 3-point field-goal percentage (41.0). The Syracuse, New York, native has done a fantastic job filling the shoes of 2017 E8 All-Conference First Teamer Sam Sorge, who averaged a team-high 20.0 points per game a year ago. To fill that role, Peebles increased her scoring average by more than six points to 20.3 points per game, which leads the league. She also ranks second in the E8 in both field-goal percentage (45.1) and free-throw percentage (78.3). Reigning Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year Rachel Benedict has also been critical to the team's success, as she leads Naz in rebounds per game (8.5) and ranks second in points (14.3) and field-goal percentage (44.7).
UP NEXT
The Purple and Gold return to action on Thursday, January 25, with a home bout against Hartwick. Tip-off for the league tilt is slated for 8:00 p.m. at Speidel Gymnasium.
