Utica, NY (1/9/14) - The Utica College women's basketball team returns home for two Empire 8 Conference games this weekend. Friday, the Pioneers' host visiting Elmira College at 8 p.m. Saturday, Ithaca comes into the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center for a 4 p.m. tip-off.

Follow the Game Live: If you cannot make a game, get up-to-the-minute stats for each home contest as well as live video provided by Utica College athletics.  Links to all game coverage is available on the women's basketball schedule page at ucpioneers.com. Friday night's game against Elmira will feature live audio on WPNR 90.7 FM or follow online Here . Fans can also keep updated on the game by checking out the official Pioneers' Twitter feed, @UCPioneers. If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #LetsGoUC.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers dropped their first two conference games on the road last weekend with a 62-52 loss at Stevens Friday, followed by a 71-59 defeat at the hands of Hartwick on Saturday.  Against Stevens, Utica was led by Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle)'s 15 points. Kelsey Cowell (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) also contributed with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) added 13 rebounds. Junior Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds and netted 12 points. Against Hartwick, Miceli finished the night with 19 points and Greenwald had an impressive 17 rebounds along with 14 points.

Greenwald Top in Conference: The senior from Wayne, New Jersey is currently first in the conference in rebounding with 13.3 rebounds per game. She is currently 2.4 rebounds ahead of the next player in the conference. She also leads the Empire 8 in offensive rebounds per game (5.2) and defensive rebounds per game (8.1).

Miceli Go-To Scorer: The sophomore guard from New Rochelle, New York is leading the Pioneers with 15.9 points per game. She scored a career-high 42 points against SUNY Potsdam on 11/16. In 10 games, she has scored in double-digits eight times. Miceli has made 22 3-pointers and is shooting 40 percent from behind the arc.

Tough on the Glass: The Pioneers are currently leading the conference in rebounds per game (47.7). UC is also second in the conference in rebounding margin (+6.0). Leading the way for the Pioneers is Greenwald (13.3) and freshman Kelsey Cowell (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) (8.0). Cowell had a career-high 15 rebounds against SUNY IT earlier this year, while Greenwald had 17 against SUNY Potsdam.

Scouting Elmira: Elmira is currently 2-0 in the conference with a 6-2 overall record. Last season, the teams split the regular season series against each other with each team winning at home. Utica won 67-51 at the Clark Athletic Center (1/19/13) before traveling to Elmira where the Soaring Eagles won in overtime, 79-75 (2/16/13). In their last ten meetings the Pioneers hold a 9-1 series advantage. Elmira opened up conference play last week with a win over Nazareth and St. John Fisher. The Soaring Eagles are led by Jessica Zoltowski, who is first in the conference with an average of 20.6 points per game.

Scouting Ithaca: Ithaca is 1-1 in the conference with a 8-4 overall record. Last season, Ithaca won both games against the Pioneers with a 55-35 win on the road and a 65-58 win at home. Utica is looking for its first win against Ithaca since Jan. 31, 2009. The Bombers opened up conference play last week by losing at Hartwick, 60-63, and then winning at Stevens, 78-69. Ithaca is led by Mary Kate Tierney who is averaging 14.7 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Looking Ahead: UC will host SUNY Cobleskill Monday, Jan. 13th at 6 p.m. in a non-conference game. Next weekend, the Pioneers will continue conference play at Nazareth at 8 p.m. on Friday before traveling to St. John Fisher at 4 p.m. on Saturday.


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