Box Score SUNYIT 71, Utica 55 - Box Score

Marcy, N.Y. (1/3/2012) – The Utica College women's basketball team snapped a 16 game winning streak against local rival SUNYIT after a 71-55 loss to the Wildcats on Tuesday night at the Wildcat Gymnasium.  Senior point guard Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth) netted 21 points and added seven rebounds, while Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) added 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Pioneers.

Utica (5-5) lost is third straight overall headed into Empire 8 Conference action this weekend.  The Wildcats won their second straight contest and improved to 6-2 overall.  SUNYIT used a 16-0 run to open up the second half in the non conference victory. 

SUNYIT's Lyndsey Brognano led the way for the 'Cats. The junior shooting guard connected on 11-of-20 from the field for a game-high of 27 points. In the second half, however, it was her defensive contributions that arguably proved most valuable: she recorded four steals out of her team's impressive tally of 11.

The most critical stretch of the game for the Wildcats came right at the beginning of the second half. Forward Kayla McNeil got SUNYIT started with a jumper barely ten seconds in, and Brognano stole the ensuing in-bounds pass for a layup. After a quick miss by Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth), SUNYIT captain Kwanisha Jones found Brognano for a three-pointer from the top of the arc, and before 30 seconds had ticked off the clock the Wildcats were up by seven, 34-27.

McGee did her best to keep Utica in it throughout the second half, scoring 16 of her team-high 21 points in the second half, matching Brognano's output for the period. But the Wildcats' defense – especially on Utica's Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping), who was held to just four points on two field goal attempts in the second half – kept her fireworks confined, and over the last nine minutes SUNYIT never led by less than 10.

Senior forward Justine Karst (Olean, NY/Hinsdale) added six points and grabbed eight rebounds for UC, while Alyssa Filkins (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill) and Mara Newland each chipped in with four points. 

UC returns to action Friday night when it hosts conference foe Nazareth College.  Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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