UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team got back to its winning ways on Saturday afternoon as the Pioneers topped visiting Alfred University 75-59 in Empire 8 Conference action at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.  Sophomore guards Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) and Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) combined for 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to pace the Pioneers.

Mayo had a career-high 19 points, while Babb added 17 points, a career-high eight assists, eight rebounds and tied her career-high with six steals. 

The Pioneers snapped a seven game slide and improved to 7-11 overall and 2-7 in the Empire 8.  UC returns to action on Monday when it travels to St. John Fisher College to take on the Cardinals in conference play at 8 p.m.

Nine different players scored at least one point for the Pioneers in the victory.  Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) totaled seven points and five rebounds, while Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) chipped in with six points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Rachel Hunter (West Islip, NY/West Islip) also added eight points, three rebounds and two steals. 

The Pioneer defense caused 26 turnovers which resulted in 21 points on the other end and 48 of the Pioneers 75 points came in the paint.  As a team, the Pioneers tied their season-high with 16 steals and also set new season-high's for field goal attempts (79), rebounds (54) and assists (15).

The Pioneers pushed the action from the get go and took its largest lead of the first quarter, 24-10, after senior guard Kelcei Edmonds (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy) drilled a 3-pointer with 1:40 to go in the first.

Utica extended its lead to 15 points, 27-12, early in the second quarter until the visitors used a 7-0 run to cut their deficit to eight points with 5:23 to go in the first half of play. The Pioneers were able to gain their double digit lead back and did not relinquish it for the remainder of the half, taking a 36-25 lead into the locker room at intermission.

UC started the second half on a 21-6 run in the first 6:25 to take its largest lead of the game, 54-31, with 3:35 to go in the third quarter. The Pioneers managed to maintain a 20+ point lead and held a 61-40 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

The Saxons were able to narrow their margin to 16 points by the end of the fourth quarter, but the final horn sounded with the Pioneers on top, 75-59. 

Utica's Calypso Carty (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) hauled in seven rebounds and added four points, while Kelcei Edmonds (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy) added a season-high seven points for the Pioneers. Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) came off the bench and provided a nice spark with six points as Maggie Tabbone added six rebounds. 

Alfred was led by 18 points from Chanice Battle before she fouled out in the second half.  Leading scorer Amanda Off netted 16 points and added eight rebounds for the visitors.