The Utica College women's basketball team lost Friday night 67-64 against Stevens Institute of Technology at Canavan Arena. UC is now 8-2 in the Empire 8 Conferenece and 15-4 overall while the Ducks are 9-3 in the Empire 8 and 12-8 overall on the season.  The loss snapped a five game winning streak for UC and gave the Pioneers only their second loss in  conference play.

The game started out back and forth during the first four minutes off the game until Stevens started to break off a small lead at 13:27, 14-10. Stevens began to pull away at the halfway point and took a lead 26-18 with 10:12 to play in the first. Utica struggled to get any momentum back and at halftime the Ducks led the Pioneers 37-28.

UC would make a run at the Ducks in the second half and outscored Stevens 36-30. However, their first half lead looked to be sufficient enough to hold on to victory. Utica College pulled to within three points of Stevens several times throughout the second and then with 7:21 remaining Utica went on an 8-1 run to take the lead, 58-57, after a  Jessica Berry (Rome, NY) lay up. This was Utica's frst lead since a Berry lay up gave the Pioneers the lead 2-0 in the first minute of the game.  Stevens would quickly regain the lead at 6:32 60-58 and would contain the win from there.

Utica junior forward Jessica Berry led UC with 28 points 12 boards. Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH) came off the bench for Utica and totaled 12 points and six rebounds. Guard Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA) had nine points, four rebounds and two assists, she was also a perfect 6-for-6 from the line.

The overall statistics for the game were as follows: FG%: Utica 39.6%, Stevens 43.5%. FT%: Utica 72.4% (21-29), Stevens 72.7% (8-11). 3-pt%: Utica 16.7% (1-6), Stevens 45.5% (5-11).

The Pioneers are back in action Tuesday to face conference rival Ithaca College at Ben Light Gymnasium in Ithaca, NY. The contest is set to begin at 6 p.m. UC lost Ithaca earlier in the year 68-63 at Clark Athletic Center in Utica, NY. The Ithaca Bombers are undefeated in the conference with a 12-0 record and they are 17-4 overall. Over the past four seasons, Utica leads the series 6-5, including conference playoff games.
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