UTICA, NY – Hartwick College outscored host Utica College 35-22 in the second half on its way to a key 62-53 Empire 8 Conference victory at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium on Tuesday night.  Utica was led by 16 points from senior Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle), while sophomore guard Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) added 14 points and nine rebounds. 

The Pioneers snapped a five game home winning streak and their overall record moved to 6-6 (1-2 Empire 8). Hartwick has won two of its last three conference games and moved to 4-7 overall on the season. 

Four Hawks scored in double figures including Jacqui Foreman (22), Caitlin Corbett (14), Emily Stone (11) and freshman Carly Johnson (11).

Ashelynne Babb totaled eight points off the bench for the Pioneers, while Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) flirted with a double-double, netting nine points and grabbing eight rebounds.  Freshman Rachel Hunter (West Islip, NY/West Islip) added four points and two rebounds for Utica.

Hartwick jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead in the first 5:20 of the contest, but the Pioneers battled right back, putting together a 12-2 run of their own to knot the score at 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.

UC added the first seven points of the second quarter, in under a minute, courtesy of two 3-pointers from Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) and a layup by Babb, as the Pioneers took a 21-14 advantage. Utica did not relinquish its lead for the remainder of the second half and took a 31-27 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

Utica pushed its lead back to five points, 38-33, midway through the third quarter, but the Hawks used a 9-4 run in the final 3:09 of the quarter to knot the score at 42-42 headed into the final ten minutes of action.

The score was tied twice at 44-44 (8:36) and 49-49 (3:26) in the fourth quarter, but the Hawks outscored Utica 13-4 in the final 3:14 of action to earn the Empire 8 victory.

Utica continues its three game Empire 8 home stand this weekend when the Pioneers host Elmira on Friday at 8 p.m. and Houghton on Saturday at 5 p.m.