The Utica College women's basketball team shot 50% from the floor and outscored visiting Cazenovia 49-30 in the second half on its way to a convincing 92-63 victory in non conference play on the hardwood at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center Thursday night. Junior forward Jessica Berry led the way for the Pioneers with 20 points (16 in the second half), while classmate Devon Croll added 19 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
The Pioneers got back in the win column, and improved to 4-1 overall, after a disappointing 62-58 loss to Hamilton College on Monday, while Cazenovia remains winless, 0-3, on the year.
The Wildcats were able to keep the game close in the first half by shooting 15-of-35 from the floor. Megan McDermott and Samantha Allen scored 10 and 11 first half points, respectively, for Cazenovia. Even with the great play of McDermott and Allen the Pioneers were still able to extend their lead to as many ten points, 43-33, at half time behind 15 first half points from Croll.
The Pioneers used an 18-2 run over the course of 4:56 mid-way through the second half to put the game out of reach. Cazenovia was able to cut the lead back to 18 points, 77-59, with 5:11 to go in the contest, but the Pioneers answered with a 15-4 run to close out the contest.
Several key stats led the Pioneers to the dominating victory. UC tallied 33 second chance points compared to Caz's six and the Pioneers bench also stepped up by scoring 35 points compared to the Wildcats nine points off the bench.
Freshman forward Meagan Fiore scored a career-high 14 points and grabbed seven boards for UC, while classmate Danielle Bushansky added a career-high nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc. Senior Danielle Moore netted eight points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists for UC.
McDermott finished the day with a team-high 16 points, while Allen totaled 11. Colleen Clarke turned it on in the second half and compiled 14 points and nine assists.
UC opens up Empire 8 Conference play on Sunday when they travel to Nazareth College in Pittsford, N.Y. Tip-off is scheduled for noon. The Wildcats open up conference play at home on Saturday against the College of St. Elizabeth at 3 p.m.
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