Box Score
Elmira, NY (February 1, 2014) – The Utica College women's basketball team lost 64-57 in Empire 8 Conference action at Elmira College Saturday afternoon. Utica's Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) registered her ninth double-double of the season (12 points, 11 rebounds) for the Pioneers. Junior Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) added 15 points and grabbed four rebounds for Utica.

Elmira was led by Maria Thannhauser's 20 point and seven rebound effort to help the Soaring Eagles improve to 13-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play. UC has struggled as of late, losing five in a row, and the Pioneers overall record dropped to 5-14 on the year and 0-10 in the Empire 8.

Marissa Kahane (Sayville, NY/Sayville) added nine points off the bench, while freshman classmates Kelsey Cowell (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) and Calypso Carty (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) each registered five points. Junior Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) added eight points and four assists before fouling out.

Elmira led the entire contest and earned its largest lead of the afternoon, 12 points, on two different occasions throughout the game. Utica turned the ball over 20 times and shot 20-of-45 from the floor (44.4%).

Elmira opened up a nine point advantage, 13-4, after Alex Balara drilled a 3-pointer at the 11:04 mark of the first half. The Soaring Eagles extended their lead to 12 points, 26-14, at the 7:02 marker of the first half until the Pioneers used an 8-0 run in a span of 3:22 to cut their deficit to 26-22 with 3:40 remaining in the contest. Elmira kept the Pioneers at bay and held a 32-26 advantage as the first half buzzer sounded.

Utica trailed by 12 once again, 55-43, with 7:40 left in regulation but used an 8-2 run in a span of 2:09 to cut its deficit to just six points, 57-51, with 5:31 remaining in the contest. However, it seemed that the Soaring Eagles had every answer for the Pioneers as they controlled their lead and managed to preserve a seven advantage as the final horn sounded.

The Pioneers return home on Tuesday night for their sixth annual "Play 4 Kay" contest against visiting St. John Fisher College at 8 p.m. Throughout the game the Pioneers will host a 50/50 raffle and a bake sale to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer.