Utica, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team improved to 2-3 on the season after defeating MCLA on Wednesday. The Pioneers won 66-52 behind Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop)'s 15 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
 
UC started off strong taking a 10-4 lead just three minutes into the first quarter. The Pioneers continued their solid play with a 10-2 run in a span of 1:25 to take a 20-8 lead with 3:56 left in the first. Utica ended the first quarter with a 24-16 lead. MCLA fought back and cut the lead to five points, 29-24, with 4:17 left in the first half. The Pioneers finished the second quarter on an 8-3 run in 4:09 to end the half with a 37-27 lead. Babb led all scorers with 13 points going into halftime.
 
The visiting Trailblazers went on an 11-2 run in the third quarter in 4:50 making the score 41-38 with three minutes left in the period. Utica answered back with a 10-2 run of its own in 2:10, capped off with a four point play from freshman Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead), to make the score 51-40 with 12 seconds left before the fourth. The Pioneers clinched the game with a 15-2 run over the span of 5:47 to create the largest lead of the game at 66-47 with 3:25 remaining. UC held on in the final three minutes to earn the 14-point victory.
 
Babb recorded 15 points, five rebounds and tied her career-high with eight assists in the game. Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) also scored 15 points for the team, while adding six rebounds. Mayo has now scored double-digits in three straight games. Rachel Hunter (West Islip, NY/West Islip) also reached double figures as she contributed 11 points and six rebounds.
 
Freshman Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) received her first collegiate start as she tied her career-high of seven points. Calypso Carty (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) provided valuable minutes off the bench as she tallied six points and a game-high of nine rebounds. Marissa Woods (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) earned her first collegiate points in the game as she finished 2-for-2 with four points and two steals. UC dominated the boards as they outrebounded their opponents 43-28.
 
MCLA's leading scorer was senior Kayla Hotaling, as she recorded 15 points and six rebounds. Courtney McLaughlin made a strong contribution as well with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Pioneers return to action as they travel to face Misericordia University on Saturday. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m.