Score: Houghton College 64, Elmira College 56
Records: Elmira (4-10, 0-5 E8), Houghton (10-7, 3-5 E8)
Location: Nielsen Center – Houghton, N.Y.

HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Senior guard Lindsey Heaton '19 dropped a career-high 30 points, but it wasn't enough to push Elmira past the Highlanders of Houghton College on Tuesday evening, as the Soaring Eagles fell on the road by a slim 64-56 margin.

Heaton was the only Soaring Eagle to score in double figures, as the New Milford, Connecticut, native was electric with the ball in her hands. Heaton was 11-for-21 (52.4%) from the floor and a stellar 5-for-7 (71.4%) from behind the arc. The floor general rounded out her scoreline with four boards and a trio of assists. Rachel Vespucci '19 added eight points and a team-high six boards for EC.

Houghton used a balance attack to keep the Purple and Gold at bay, as a trio of Highlanders finished in double figures, led by Emily Swanson, who finished with a team-high 14 points. Brittany Lenart added 11 points and Leslie Moose rounded out the Houghton attack with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

A slow start haunted the Soaring Eagles all evening, as Houghton jumped out to a 14-5 lead over the opening 10 minutes of action. EC's offense came alive in the second quarter, as the Purple and Gold went blow-for-blow with the Highlanders, matching Houghton with 19 points in the quarter.  Elmira kicked off the period with an 8-2 run over the first three minutes of play as Sally Hogan '19 supplied four points with back-to-back makes in the paint. EC kept it close, but the Highlanders scored the final four points of the opening half to take a 33-24 lead.

Houghton got the better of the Soaring Eagles in the third quarter, as the Highlanders' defense held EC to 12 points. An early 6-0 run by Houghton set the tone for the quarter as the hosts jumped out to a 15-point lead. A make from Sarah Garner '20 cut the deficit to 14, but Houghton continued to respond throughout the period.

Trailing 52-36 entering the fourth quarter, Elmira turned up the defensive intensity, as the Purple and Gold held Houghton to 12 points. Despite their best efforts, Elmira's offense didn't start to find a groove until late in the quarter. Three makes from Heaton cut the Highlanders edge to eight, but it was too little, too late, as EC couldn't complete the comeback effort.

News and Notes

• Houghton held the edge on the boards, 38-26.
• Elmira forced the Highlanders into 19 turnovers.
• Bridget Yaw '20 added six points.
• The last time a Soaring Eagle scored 30 points came on February 1, 2015 season, when Danielle Cleary '18 tallied 37 against Alfred.
• Heaton is now 66 points away from reaching the 1,000-point plateau. 

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to Speidel Gymansium this Friday, January 25, to host Empire 8 Conference foe, The Sage Colleges. Tip-off is  scheduled for 5:30 p.m.