Box Score Utica 48, Alfred 40 - Box Score

Utica, NY (2-10-12) - Senior guard Katie McGee (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth) hit four straight free throws, within the last .48 seconds, to seal the Utica College women's basketball team's second consecutive Empire 8 Conference win.  UC downed Alfred University Friday night, 48-40, while improving to 9-14 overall and 4-8 in the E8.

The Pioneers jumped out to a six point lead, 10-4, at 12:39, before the home team struck a 16-4 run, over the next ten minutes. AU managed a 20-14 advantage, with 3:59 remaining in the first half, before sophomore Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) converted back-to-back lay ups, followed by a Marissa Kahane (Sayville, NY/Sayville) jump shot to pull the Pioneers within two points of the lead.  The Saxons took a slight 20-18 edge into the locker room at the half.

The teams traded baskets over the first six minutes of the second half and the score was knotted at 30-30 with 13:18 left in regulation.  UC went on to manufacture an 11-2 spurt over the course of three minutes, pushing to a 39-32 lead at the ten minute mark. Alfred pulled within four points of Utica, 44-40, with 5:45 remaining, before a five minute scoring drought by both squads. McGee's free throw snapped the five minute draw as UC thwarted AU's hopes of its first conference victory this season.

McGee tallied a game-high 15 points to go along with her six rebounds and four assists.  Senior Justine Karst (Olean, NY/Hinsdale) and junior Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) combined for 20 points and 20 boards, including Karst's season-high 11 rebounds.

The Pioneers are back in action Saturday afternoon against Elmira College for a 2 p.m. tip-off at the Murray Athletic Center.  The Soaring Eagles are currently 8-15 overall and 4-8 in the Empire 8.

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