HOUGHTON, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team snapped a six game losing streak Saturday downing Empire 8 rival Houghton College, 56-40, at the Nielsen Physical Education Center.  Junior Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor.

UC's Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) added 12 points and a team-high seven boards while also shooting 6-of-13 from the field. Freshman Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) and junior Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) chipped in with a combined 10 points, 10 assists and four boards in the victory.

The Pioneers move their overall record to 10-14 while improving to 6-9 in league play.  UC returns home on Friday as its hosts Alfred University for Senior Day. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center. 

The teams traded baskets over the initial 10 minutes of play as UC managed a three point lead, 11-8, with 9:15 left in the first half.  The Pioneers then began to click on both sides of the floor as they went off on a 20-3 run to close out the first half of play with a commanding 31-11 advantage. Utica held the home team to 20.0% on 5-of-20 shooting over the first 20 minutes of action.

HC outscored Utica 29-25 in the second half but could not overcome the first half deficit as UC snapped a six game skid en route to its 10^th win of the season and sixth in conference play.

The Highlanders were guided by Hannah Manwaring's 10 points and four rebounds while Maise Piper and Christel Enriquez totaled a combined 10 points and 17 grabs.  Pipher scored eight points along with a game-high nine boards.

Houghton falls to 5-20 overall including a 1-14 mark in the Empire 8 and remains home for its final game of the season as its welcomes Elmira College for a 6 p.m. tip-off.