ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's basketball team was defeated by visiting Cazenovia College in the 2021 home finale on Pat Thompson '75 Court at Speidel Gymnasium by a final score of 56-47.

Second-year guard Mykenzie Malacusky '23 and junior forward Taylor Albrecht '22 finished in double figures for the Soaring Eagles (2-3) with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Off the bench, sophomore Autumn Hunsinger '23 added a season-high nine points.

For Caz (3-1), Fiona Hunt recorded a double-double and led all players with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Lauren Schwarzbeck (12) and Mackenzie Bennett (10) rounded out the game's double-digit scorers. Perhaps more impressive, however, was the tremendous passing displayed by the Wildcats, who earned assists on 21 of their 25 made field goals. Bailey Bennett, who also played a key role with five blocks on defense, dished out a team-high seven assists for Cazenovia.

Neither team did much to separate themselves in the first half. In the opening quarter, the Purple and Gold used a six-point run to pull ahead by five, 11-6. The Wildcats quickly reduced the margin to one point, and after a back-and-forth second quarter, Mackenzie Bennett tied the game at 27-all with 13 seconds left in the half. Hustling up the floor for the final shot, Emily Sutryk '24 missed her go-ahead 3-pointer, but a great last-second effort by Katy Decker '23 to collect the offensive board and put the ball back off the glass before the buzzer had EC up by two at halftime, 29-27.

The third quarter was the difference-maker, as the Wildcats outscored Elmira 21-10 in the period thanks to a 55.6 field-goal percentage (10-of-18). On the other hand, EC made only 20.0% of its tries in the third (4-of-20).

Cazenovia began the third quarter with 11 unanswered points and would extend its lead to as many as 15 points, 46-31. Malacusky opened the fourth with four consecutive points, as the Soaring Eagles whittled the Caz advantage down to a two-possession difference at 50-45. But EC went cold and did not score again for over five minutes. In fact, Elmira only added two points to the ledger in the final seven-and-a-half minutes, shooting a bleak 1-for-14 during that span.

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles ended their abbreviated home schedule with one win in three tries this season.
• EC's offense tied a season-low with only nine turnovers.
• Elmira had a season-high 44 rebounds, but the Wildcats finished with a plus-10 rebound margin.
• Malacusky scored double-digit points for the third time in the last four games.
• Hunsinger's nine points, two assists, and 24 minutes played all mark single-game season-highs.
• Alicia Johnson '22 netted three points while leading the Soaring Eagles with a career-high nine rebounds.

Up Next
The 2021 season concludes on Saturday, March 20, when Elmira visits Cazenovia to wrap-up its home-and-home against the Wildcats at noon.