BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Elmira College Women's Basketball team picked up its first Empire 8 Conference victory of the season on Tuesday evening, defeating the hosts from Medaille College 69-63 inside the Keith I. Sullivan Center.
The Soaring Eagles were propelled to victory by Desiree Roy '25, who recorded her fifth double-double of the season after an 11-point, 15 rebound effort. Taylor Albrecht '22, (13 points), Laura Bogota (11 points), and Nevaeh Winston (11 points) all reached double figures for the Purple & Gold in the victory.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 69, Medaille 63
LOCATION: Buffalo, New York | Keith I. Sullivan Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (5-4, 1-2 Empire 8), Medaille (2-6, 0-2 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The two teams would miss the first six shots combined to begin the contest before Olivia Ayres '25 got the Soaring Eagles on the board with a three-pointer in front of the Maverick bench. From there, a made layup in the post from Albrecht and a pull-up jumper from Alleney Klunk '24 pushed the EC lead to 7-0 just four minutes into the contest. After the Mavericks converted on the front end of its first trip to the free throw line, a Soaring Eagle turnover would allow the home team to convert from deep to trim the Elmira lead to just three, 7-4, in the early going.
Elmira would extend its lead to five once again after Taylor Jung '25 converted on a layup, but it would be the Mavericks who would then use a 7-0 run of its own to take its first lead of the game with 2:44 remaining in the first quarter. Over the final two minutes of play, the teams would exchange leads three times, with the Mavericks holding on to the slim advantage, 17-14.
Ayres would connect on her second three-pointer of the evening just 13 seconds into the second quarter, sparking an 10-0 lead to begin the frame which saw buckets from Albrect (four points) and Bogota (three points) as Elmira tied its biggest lead of the contest, seven points, with just over five minutes remaining in the half. From there, a 12-1 run for the Mavericks allowed the home team to regain the lead once again, its largest of the game, four points, with just over two minutes remaining in the frame. Down the stretch, the teams would battle with Medaille holding a slim 29-28 lead going into the locker room.
For the half, Elmira shot 39.3% from the floor (11-of-28) compared to 40.0% for the Mavericks. Through two quarters, the game would feature five lead changes and four ties, with EC holding a 4-1 advantage from beyond the arc.
The Soaring Eagles would open the second half on a 6-0 run, extending its lead back to five points before the Mavericks would regain the lead once again, two minutes later, following a 6-0 run of its own. Over the final six minutes of the quarter, the Purple & Gold would outscore the opposition by seven points to carry a 48-42 advantage into the final quarter of play.
In the fourth, the Elmira lead would grow to as many as 13 points before the Mavericks made one last push, trimming its deficit down to as little as four points with 18 seconds remaining. Bogota would put the finishing touch on the contest and send Elmira home with a win following a pair of free throws to close the game.
For the contest, EC would shoot 40.0% from the field compared to 42.1% for the Mavericks. Elmira's conversion percentage from downtown was significantly better than Medaille's, making the same number of shots (six) in five less attempts. Elmira's 27-18 advantage in points off turnovers helped propel themselves to victory, forcing 22 turnovers compared to just 15 of their own.
ELMIRA LEADERS (24-of-60, 40.0% from the floor)
Desiree Roy - 11 points, 4 blocks, 15 rebounds, 2 steals
Laura Bogota - 11 points, 8 assists, 4 steals
Taylor Albrecht - 13 points, 3 rebounds
Nevaeh Winston - 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
MEDAILLE LEADERS (24-of-57, 42.1% from the floor)
Erin Hardick - 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Ariea Garrett - 15 points, 9 rebounds
Shyanne Trinh - 14 points, 7 rebounds
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the court this Friday against the Gators from Russell Sage College which kicks off the beginning of seven of the next nine games being played inside Speidel Gymnasium. Tip is set for 5:30 PM on Friday followed by its Saturday game against Hartwick at 2:00 PM.
