UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team hits the road for and opens up Empire 8 Conference play against Alfred on Tuesday and Stevens on Thursday. Both games are scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers won a close one edging out Union 64-60 last Wednesday to improve to 5-4 overall … Utica remained unbeaten (5-0) at home thanks to performances by Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) (18 points, three assists, three steals, and two rebounds) and Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) (10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and one assist).
 
Empire 8 Conference: Utica placed fifth out of nine teams with a 7-9 Conference record last year … UC last made the Conference Tournament in the 2010-2011 season and lost in the first round to #1 ranked Ithaca College 76-49 … The Pioneers are 0-5 in conference openers over the last five years.
 
Miceli Approaching Another Milestone: Earlier this season, senior Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) became just the 11th player in program history to score 1,000 career points, and one of six players to have 100 + career three pointers (138)… She needs only two 3-pointers to move into second place on the school's all-time 3-pointers made list.
 
Road Trip: UC is currently on a three game win streak and is looking to continue the streak on the road … Utica is currently looking for its first road win of the season and is hoping to do it this week against Conference opponents.
 
Leading The Way: The Pioneers have two players averaging more than 10 points per game … Miceli leads the team and is sixth in the Empire 8 averaging 15.3 points per game followed by sophomore Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) who is averaging 12.4 …  Miceli also has 36 rebounds, 14 steals, and 13 assists on the season while Babb has 43 rebounds, 22 steals, and 16 assists.
 
Helping Out: Utica has five players averaging six or more points per game … Calypso Carty (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) is third on the team averaging 8.2 points per game to go along with 53 rebounds, 16 steals, 10 assists, and one block … Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) is averaging seven points a game and has also added 32 rebounds, 14 steals, and seven assists this season … Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) is fifth on the team averaging six points per game to go along with 37 rebounds, 13 steals, three blocks, and three assists.
 
Scouting Alfred: The Saxons are 1-8 overall so far this season … Alfred is coming off of a 71-66 victory over Penn State Altoona … The Saxons are led by Amanda Off (18.8 points per game, 81 rebounds, eight blocks, six steals, and five assists) and McKaylee Croll (12.9 points per game, 34 rebounds, 18 assists, and seven steals) … The Pioneers are 9-1 against Alfred over the last five years including winning both games last year 72-50 and 76-43.
 
Scouting Stevens: The Ducks are 6-3 overall with a 2-0 Conference record … Stevens is coming off of a 70-55 victory over Conference opponent Elmira … The Ducks are led by Kaitlyn Astel (15.1 points per game, 40 rebounds, 21 assists, 15 steals, and four blocks) and Miranda Ripkin (11.9 points per game, 24 rebounds, 12 assists, nine steals, and one block) … UC lost both games against Stevens last year 64-55 and 55-52.
 
Watch the Game From Home: Make sure to catch live video, audio and stats on http://portal.stretchinternet.com/alfred/ for the Alfred game and http://portal.stretchinternet.com/stevens/ , http://www.sidearmstats.com/stevens/wbball/ for the Stevens game.
 
Social Media: Make sure to follow live updates of the game on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers… If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #UCMoose… You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers ... Fans can also follow the Pioneers on Instagram: UCPioneers.
 
Looking Ahead: UC returns home for a three game home stand starting Tuesday against Conference opponent Hartwick College … Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.