ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A third-quarter drought proved costly, as the Elmira College women's basketball team fell to the visiting Hawks of Hartwick College in the 2019-20 Empire 8 Conference opener by a 61-39 final score.

The Soaring Eagles (2-8, 0-1 E8) netted 18 points in the second quarter, the most in a quarter by either team, allowing the Purple and Gold to level the score at 31-all at the break. However, the Hawks (7-5, 1-0 E8) held EC without a point in the third quarter while pouring in 15 points of their own to take the lead for good.

Down by four in the second, Taylor Johnson '23 splashed a 3-pointer, and Alyssa Waters '22 stole the ball from Hartwick's Giuliana Pritchard on the ensuing possession. Johnson then collected an offensive board and converted a second-chance layup to put Elmira ahead by one, 27-26. The first-year guard from Johnson City, New York, was responsible for the Soaring Eagles' last four points of the half, including a field goal at the 1:46 mark that widened the gap to three points, 31-28.

The Hawks were able to even the score heading into the locker room, before piecing together a stout defensive effort that kept the Soaring Eagles off of the board until Lauren Franklin '20 recorded a successful free throw early in the fourth quarter.

Johnson paced all Elmira scorers with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. In addition to a season-high point total, the rookie added a season-best 11 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Waters also reached double figures for EC with 10 points, followed by Franklin with six points and seven rebounds.

News and Notes

• Elmira edged Hartwick in offensive rebounds, 14-to-12.
• The Soaring Eagles held the Hawks to just two 3-point field goals, tied for the fewest allowed by the EC defense this season.
• Johnson made her first career start and finished the game with career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (11).
• Waters recorded double-digit points for the fifth time as a sophomore.
• Senior Emily Breheny '20 hauled in five rebounds, giving her five-or-more boards in eight of 10 games played this season.

Up Next
Elmira returns to Speidel Gymnasium on Monday, January 6, for a non-conference bout against the St. Lawrence University Saints at 5:00 p.m.