Empire 8 Conference Standings

Utica, N.Y.-The Utica College women's basketball team hits the road this weekend to take on Alfred University and second place St. John Fisher in Empire 8 Conference action. The Pioneers (11-9, 7-4) can clinch a playoff spot for the seventh straight year with two wins and a Nazareth loss.

UC began the season with a 4-6 record including a loss to conference rival Stevens Institute of Technology. Utica got a much-needed rest during the winter break and since then, the Pioneers are 7-3 and sit in fourth place in the Empire 8 Conference. UC won the first time these teams met and Utica needs similar results to avoid undefeated Ithaca in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.

The Pioneers open the weekend when they travel to Alfred University Friday to take on the Saxons (9-12, 4-8) at 6 p.m. Alfred is coming off a win against last place Elmira College but a loss to Utica will put an end to any chances of the Saxons making the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.

Utica then travels to Rochester on Saturday to take on St. John Fisher College (13-9, 10-3) at 6 p.m. The Cardinals are currently in second place in the Empire 8 and have played two more games than the Pioneers.

Senior All-American Jessica Berry (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) leads the way for the Pioneers. Berry reached another milestone Friday when she recorded her 1,000th rebound (second in program-history) as Utica defeated Hartwick. She currently leads the conference, averaging a double-double with 20.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. She also has a conference high 66 steals (3.30 pg).

Sophomore forward Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) has been a force in the paint this season for UC with a .588 field percentage, good enough for second in the conference. Fiore is also third in conference scoring averaging 17.6 points per game.

Other key players for UC are senior guard Devon Croll (Vernon, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) and junior guard Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth). Croll leads the conference in three-point percentage (.453), minutes played (37.80 pg) and is second in assists averaging 4.65 per contest. McGee leads the E8 in assists per game with 5.1 and also averages 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Following the weekend, UC returns to action Tuesday as it heads to Elmira for the final game of a three game road trip. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Soaring Eagles are currently 5-17 overall and 2-11 in conference play