UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's basketball team returns home Thursday, as it hosts Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers fell to SUNY Oneonta on Tuesday by the score of 65-52… Senior Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) and junior Calypso Carty (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) led UC with 16 points and 14 points, respectively… Sophomore Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) also chipped in with 11 points for Utica… The Pioneers played Oneonta even in the paint, as each team finished with 18 points in the paint.
 
MICELI LEADING THE WAY: Miceli is off to another good start for the Pioneers this season… In UC's first game against SUNY Potsdam, Miceli finished with 13 points, three rebounds, and two steals… On Tuesday against Oneonta, Miceli had 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, six rebounds, and two steals in 40 minutes… She needs just 54 more points to reach the 1,000-point milestone for her career.  
 
ALSO CHIPPING IN: Carty was a big factor last game against Oneonta, finishing with six rebounds and three steals, to go along with her 14 points… She shot 5-of-12 from the field, and 4-of-6 from the free throw line in 31 minutes of action… Mayo finished with a team-leading seven rebounds, to go along with four assists, one steal, and 11 points… Mayo also shot 5-of-12 from the field.
 
TEAM EFFORT: UC has 10 different players that have scored this season, and 12 different players that have seen playing time in the first two games… The Pioneers have outrebounded their competition so far, as they are averaging 40 rebounds per game, compared to 38.5 for their opponents… UC also has 12 steals per game, with their opponents averaging 8.5 steals per game… Utica has held opponents to 55.5 points per game, and the Pioneers have scored 62 points per game so far… The Pioneers have also outshot opponent from three-points range, shooting 37%, while opponents have shot 34.3% from beyond the arc.
 
SCOUTING RPI: The Engineers started off their season with an 80-40 win over Simmons College… Bailei Tetrault and LaKissa Martin led the way for RPI with 12 points, three rebounds, and two steals each… Elizabeth Eckhardt also chipped in with 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals in the win… The Engineers shot 48.6% from the field, 60% from three-point range, and 66.7% from the free throw line…The Engineers hold a height advantage as they have six players listed at 5'10" or taller.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUPS WITH RPI: The Pioneers' last win against the Engineers came on Nov. 21, 2013 on RPI's home floor by the score of 81-73… This season will mark the sixth straight season that the Pioneers have faced off against RPI.
 
NEXT TIME OUT: After taking on RPI, the Pioneers will travel across town to take on local rival, SUNY Polytechnic on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.