Utica, NY (1/30/14) - The Utica College women's basketball team (5-12, 0-8 Empire 8) looks to get back on track this weekend as it has a pair of Empire 8 Conference games.  The Pioneers host Alfred University Friday night at 8 p.m. before traveling the next day to visit Elmira for a 4 p.m. tip off.

Game Coverage: Live video for both games are available at empire8.tv … Links for live stats for this weekend's contests are available on the Pioneers' schedule page at www.ucpioneers.com … Friday's game against Alfred can be heard on the radio on ESPN 99.1 FM and WPNR 90.7 FM.

Social Media: If you can't make it out to the game, make sure to follow live updates on the Pioneers official Twitter feed, @UCPioneers … If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #letsgoUC … You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers.

Last Weekend: UC dropped a pair of conference games against Hartwick and Stevens last weekend … On Friday, the Pioneers lost 72-58 to Hartwick... Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) scored 14 points while shooting 5-for-11 from the floor… The following night Utica lost to Stevens 71-60 despite Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills)'s 11 point, 15 rebound performance and Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle)'s 16 points.

Leading the Way: Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) is leading the Pioneers in scoring and is eighth in the conference in points-per-game (13.7) … Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) and Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) are also on the scoring chart at 16th and 18th in the E8 … Greenwald is leading in rebounds-per-game (11.5) … She is 1.2 rebounds ahead of the second leading rebounder … Kelsey Cowell (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) is fifth in the conference in blocked shots-per-game (0.9).

Balanced Scoring: Utica has three different players averaging over ten points a game this season (Miceli 13.7, Greenwald 11.5, Stayer 11.1)... Freshman E8 Rookie of the Week Kelsey Cowell (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) is fourth on the team in scoring (7.1).

Greenwald Close to All-Time List: Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) currently has 482 career rebounds, which is just short of the 486 boards that Corrina Rustmann '06 and Erin Preseau '96 bright down in their careers, which rank 12th all-time at Utica… If Greenwald stays on her current average of 11.5 rebounds per game, she will finish the season with 574 boards, good enough for seventh all-time...  She is currently ranked 30th nationally in rebounds-per-game (11.5) and is also tied for 46th in the country in double-doubles (eight).

Stats against Alfred: This is the first meeting between the two teams this season… Last year, Utica swept Alfred in the season series with the score of 82-58 the first game at Utica and an 86-43 score at Alfred... Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) netted 20 points while shooting 9-for-13 from the field.

Saxons Report: Alfred is off to a 5-12 start and is 0-8 in the Empire 8 … They lost a nail biter, 92-85 to Houghton on Tuesday… The Saxons are led by junior Harley Cleary who is leading the team in points (15.2), and netted a season-high 28 points earlier this season in a loss to Stevens.

Stats against Elmira: Utica lost a close one to Elmira earlier this season at the Clark Athletic Center 66-58… Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) scored 20 points for the Pioneers while shooting 7-for-10 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line... Utica was plagued by turnovers in the game, committing a season-high 27 in the loss… The Pioneers have the edge in the last seven meetings between the two teams with a record of 5-2.

Soaring Eagles Report: Elmira holds an 11-4 record with a 4-2 mark in the E8… Last Tuesday, the Soaring Eagles lost a low scoring game to Ithaca 62-48… They are led by senior Jessica Zoltowski who leads the conference and ranks 17th nationally with 21.2 points per game. 

Looking Ahead: UC will host conference opponent St. John Fisher next Tuesday at the Clark Athletic Center for the Pioneers annual "Play 4 Kay" game… Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. right after the men's game.


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