Score: Houghton College 66, Elmira College 59
Records: Elmira (4-14, 0-9 E8), Houghton (11-8, 4-6 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium -- Elmira, N.Y.

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Senior guard Lindsey Heaton '19 became just the seventh player in Elmira College women's basketball history to score 1,000 points on Friday night, as Houghton College edged the Soaring Eagles at Speidel Gymnasium by a 66-59 final score.

Heaton finished with 14 points against the Highlanders, increasing her career total to 1,003 and surpassing Karen Spaulding '98 (997) for seventh-place all-time in career points along the way. Heaton joins former teammate and fellow Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year Award winner, Danielle Cleary '18, as the latest additions to the exclusive scoring club.

The New Milford, Connecticut, native scored points Nos. 999 and 1,000 on a layup at 8:43 in the fourth quarter, which brought the Soaring Eagles within four points of Houghton, 49-44. It sparked a 10-5 run that Alyssa Waters '22 capped off with consecutive 3-pointers, whittling the deficit down to two points, 54-52. It was the closest EC came to the lead, as Houghton made its free throws down to stretch and held on for the victory.

The Soaring Eagles started strong in the opening quarter, outscoring the visiting Highlanders 20-13 while shooting an impressive 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the floor. Elmira picked up the first eight points of the night. Leading 12-9, Waters went on a run of her own with seven unanswered points. Although Waters buried another trey early in the second quarter, Houghton responded to level the score at 23-all and entered the locker room at halftime holding onto a 35-29 advantage.

Waters, who shot 60.0 percent overall (6-of-10) and 57.1 percent 3-point range (4-of-6), paced the Soaring Eagles with 16 points. Bridget Yaw '20 recorded double-digit points with 12 points, and Rachel Vespucci '19 finished two points shy of a double-double with eight points and 11 rebounds.

News and Notes

• Heaton has scored double-digit points in 17 of Elmira's 18 games this season.
• Heaton became the seventh member of EC's 1,000-point club, leapfrogging Karen Spaulding '98 (997) for seventh-place all-time.
• Waters' four 3-point field goals are a single-game season high.
• Waters ended in double figures for the sixth time in her debut campaign.
• Vespucci, a third-leading rebounder in program history, increased her career total to 740 rebounds.

Up Next
Elmira returns to Speidel Gymnasium for a 2:00 p.m. Empire 8 bout against Alfred University on Saturday, February 2.