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Utica, NY (1-18-12) – The Utica College women's basketball team looks to get back to its winning ways this weekend as it hosts back-to-back Empire 8 Conference games against Alfred and Elmira on Friday and Saturday.

Time & Place: The Pioneers will welcome Alfred University to the Clark Athletic Center (Utica, NY) Friday night for a 6 p.m. scheduled tip-off and then Elmira College on Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tip.

The Pioneer Squad: Utica is 5-10 overall on the season and in search of its first win in the competitive Empire 8 … The Pioneers have lost eight straight including their first four in the conference … At this time last season, UC was 8-7 overall and held a 5-2 mark in the E8.

McGee Campaign: Senior point guard Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth) sits in the top 15 in all 10 categories in the Empire 8 statistics report … McGee is first in assists (5.2 Avg/G) and minutes played (37.1 Avg/G) ... She is also sixth in steals (2.3 Avg/G), 3-point percentage (.368 Pct) and assist/turnover ratio (0.8  ratio)… She is tenth in scoring (12.6 Avg/G) and rebounding (6.3 Avg/G).

Fiore a Force Down Low: Junior Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) ranks second in the E8 in scoring (16.5 Avg/G) and she is third in rebounding (8.5 Avg/G) … Fiore has registered six games with 20+ points, including two consecutive efforts of 26 and 27, respectively.

UC Against the Opponents: UC swept the season series against AU and EC last season, beating Alfred by scores of 66-56 and 72-68 and Elmira, 79-62 and 87-52, convincingly … Since the 2005-06 season, Utica is 12-0 against the Saxons with an average margin of victory of 12.75 points per game … In heads up play with the Soaring Eagles, the Pioneers are riding an eight game winning streak … Elmira last beat UC back on Jan. 12, 2007 by the score of 71-58.

Meet the AU Saxons: Alfred University currently holds an overall record of 7-8 including a winless record of 0-4 in the E8 … The Saxons opened up the season winning seven of their first eight games, however they have lost seven straight.

EC This Season: Elmira College presently maintains a 6-9 overall record and a 2-2 ledger in conference play … After losing their first six contests, the Soaring Eagles have won six of their last nine games, including a current three game winning streak … EC went on the road last weekend and downed conference rivals St. John Fisher and Nazareth College.

Conference Standings: Ithaca (4-0, 12-2 Empire 8) sits atop the standings with an undefeated conference record, while Hartwick College (3-1, 11-3) and Stevens (3-1, 6-7) trail in a tie for second … Fourth place features a three-way tie with Nazareth (2-2, 9-5), Elmira (2-2, 6-9) and St. John Fisher (2-2, 6-9) … Alfred (0-4, 7-7) and Utica (0-4, 5-9) remain winless in E8 play and share seventh.

Back on the Court: Following the weekend set, UC returns to the hardwood Tuesday against E8 rival Ithaca College … The game will be held at Ben Light Gymnasium with a scheduled start time of 6 p.m. … The Bombers, presently first in the Empire 8 standings, are 4-0 in conference play and hold an overall record of 12-3.