UTICA, N.Y. – The Elmira College Soaring Eagles women's basketball team traveled to Utica, NY for an Empire 8 conference matchup with the Wildcats of SUNY Polytechnic Institute on Friday evening. The Soaring Eagles played a close game but fell after a strong second half by the Wildcats, dropping the contest 59-54. 
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Wildcats opened the scoring with a layup to take the early lead. The Soaring Eagles tied the game up shortly with a layup by Emma Ryan. Ryan scored the first six points of the game for the Soaring Eagles. Mallory Welty scored the next five points for Elmira to put them out in front 11-7. Haley Mosch put in a layup to cap off an 8-1 run for the Soaring Eagles. Mia Welty scored her first points of the game with seven seconds left in the quarter, to extend the Soaring Eagles advantage to 16-10. SUNY Polytechnic opened the second quarter on a 10-2 scoring run to bring the game within two points. Mallory Welty hit a three-pointer to regather momentum for Elmira. The half ended with four straight points from Amarionah Dixon sending Elmira into the half with a 29-25 lead. 

In the early parts of the third quarter the Soaring Eagles got layups from Dixon, Ryan, and Kelsey Stewart to cap a 6-0 run in the first minute. The Wildcats answered back with a 13-2 run and pulled ahead for the first time since the early part of the game. The Soaring Eagles were unable to get the offense rolling in the third quarter and they trailed 43-39 entering the final quarter of play. Ryan nailed a three-pointer to change the tide for the Soaring Eagles going in the fourth quarter. However, the Wildcats went on an 8-2 run to pull away from Elmira with six minutes remaining. The Soaring Eagles would fight back, seeing a three pointer from Mallory Welty put Elmira down by just two points with 45 seconds left in the game. The teams would trade free throws throughout the remaining time, Elmira unable to complete the comeback, seeing the Wildcats secure the 59-54 victory. 

LEADERS
Emma Ryan led the offense with19 points followed by Dixon with a double-double, tallying10 points and and 11 rebounds. Mallory Welty added 11 points for Elmira, including three three-pointers.  
 
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles will travel to Utica for a conference matchup with the Pioneers of Utica University on Saturday, January 24^th. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM.