Utica 79, Elmira 62 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (2/3/2011) – Sophomore forward Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) and senior All-American Jessica Berry (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) combined for 54 points as the Utica College women's basketball team cruised to a 79-62 victory over visiting Elmira College in Empire 8 Conference action Thursday night at the Clark Athletic Center. Fiore finished the day with a career-high 32 points, while Berry added 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Pioneers (10-8, 6-3 Empire 8) shot 50 percent from the floor on the evening (29-of-57) and held the Soaring Eagles to 36.9 percent shooting in the victory. Elmira has now lost five of its last six games and dropped to 4-16 overall including a 1-10 ledger in conference play.

UC used a 6-0 run in a span of 1:52 midway through the first half to take an eight point lead, 20-12, with 8:36 to go in the first half. The Pioneers would extend that lead to as many as ten on two different occasions before the end of the half. Junior point guard Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth) converted on a three point play with one second left in the first half to give the Pioneers a convincing ten point advantage after 20 minutes of play. UC outscored the visitors 14-4 in the paint in a first half that featured just two lead changes.

The Pioners used an 11-5 run in the first 2:48 of the second half to extend its lead to as many as 16 points, 45-29, with 17:12 to go in regulation. Elmira was able to cut that lead to ten points on two different occasions in the next four minutes of play but the lead never fell below double digits. Utica used a 19-8 run in a span of five minutes midway through the second half to gain a 21 point lead, 70-49, with 8:35 to go in the contest. The Pioneers managed a 20+ point lead for majority of the final eight minutes to earn the conference victory.

Tesia Kaczynski and Becca Fretz each scored 16 points to lead the way for Elmira. Maria Thannhauser chipped in with 14 points and five assists for the visitors.

Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth) and Devon Croll (Vernon, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) combined for 11 points and 11 assists, while freshman Alyssa Filkins (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill) added five assists, four points and three rebounds for UC. Stephanie Nara (Frederick, MD/Governor Thomas Johnson) came off the bench and drilled two 3-pointers for Utica.

The Pioneers return to action Saturday afternoon when they travel to first place Ithaca College to take on the Bombers at 2 p.m. UC looks to avenge an early season loss at the hands of Ithaca (74-53, Jan. 11th).

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