UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's basketball team returns from break Saturday to host Union College in non-conference action.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: In the last game before the winter break, Utica defeated visiting Morrisville State 77-69… Four Pioneers finished with at least ten points, led by senior Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop), who netted a game-high 23 points and added eight assists.  Classmate Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) finished with 14 points, followed by Ashley Mayo (Bronx, NY/Nanuet) with 12.  Freshman Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) posted a career-high 10 points and junior Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) led UC with 10 rebounds, including five off the offensive glass, and she also chipped in with nine points of her own.
 
HOME SWEET HOME: Utica is 4-0 at the friendly confines of the Clark Gymnasium this year and the Pioneers have won six of their last seven at home dating back to Feb. 2 last season… Utica is averaging nearly 70 points per game on its home court, while holding opponents to just over 58 points per game.
 
EMPIRE 8 PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) is the reigning Empire 8 Player of the week thanks to her 23-point, eight-assist outing against Morrisville in the last action before break… Babb currently leads the team with 13.9 points and 3.8 assists per game.
 
HELPING OUT: Senior Ashley Mayo (Bronx, NY/Nanuet) is second on the squad with 11.9 points per game… Mayo also leads the team with 20 steals and 10 3-pointers… Classmate Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) has a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game and she is third in scoring, averaging 9.0 points per game.
 
HEATING UP: Junior Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) has had an impressive showing in the month of December… Over the last three games, Florian is averaging 11.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. 
 
SCOUTING UNION: The Dutchwomen are 2-4 overall and they are coming off a 59-47 loss to Sage on Dec. 9… Union is led by Senior Jenni Barra, who is averaging 10.0 points per game… As a team, Union is averaging just 45.3 points per game, which is a good sign for Utica as the Pioneers are 2-0 this season when holding their opponents under 50 points.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers open up Empire 8 Conference play at home on Tuesday, Jan. 2 as they host St. John Fisher College… Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.