Box Score Utica, NY (1-10-13) – The Utica College women's basketball team dropped its fourth straight falling to Empire 8 rival Elmira College, 66-58, Friday night at the Clark Athletic Center. Junior Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) led the Pioneers with 21 points including a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

UC falls to 4-7 overall including a 0-3 mark in E8 play and return to the hardwood Saturday afternoon to welcome Ithaca College for a 2 p.m. tip-off. Elmira moved its overall record to 8-2 while remaining undefeated in conference play at 3-0.

UC worked a nine point lead through the first 10 minutes of action taking a 19-12 advantage before the visitors settled down. EC strung together a run of its own as it used a 13-6 push to knot up the contest at 25-25 with 2:19 to play in the first half. Miceli drained a three-pointer late in the first to give the Pioneers a 28-25 edge headed into the locker room.

In the second half, UC fought to hang onto the lead as the Soaring Eagles again tied up the score, 39-39, at 11:10 before taking their first lead of the game shortly after. The squads traded baskets over the next several minutes before the visitors took advantage of numerous Utica turnovers (26) and cushioned a nine-point lead, 63-54, with less than a minute on the clock.

Elmira shot 43% from the floor compared to the Pioneers 40% but 25 UC turnovers would reign supreme as EC went on to seal the deal with an eight point victory.

Utica guard Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) chipped in with 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting while Kelsey Cowell (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) snagged a game-high 12 boards to pace the Pioneers in the loss.

Soaring Eagle Jessica Zoltowski posted a double-double with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds while Maria Thannhauser and Alex Balara combined for 22 points and six grabs in the victory.