Utica, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team returns home Tuesday as it takes on Ithaca College for an Empire 8 Conference matchup in the team's "UC Hoops Cares" game. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

UC Hoops Cares: Tuesday marks the inaugural "UC Hoops Cares" game, in which the Pioneers play for a cause… This year, the Pioneers will be raising money for local resident, Erin Pratt, who is currently battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)... Pratt was diagnosed on June 28, 2015 with AML, she received chemotherapy, and went into remission… The Leukemia came back and she had a stem cell transplant with her sister Katy on May 26, 2016… Erin relapsed in November and again began treatment right away… As of January 5, 2017 she is in remission… During both the women's and men's games on Tuesday, the Pioneers will be holding a bake sale, a 50/50 raffle, as well as a raffle for the chance to win a signed Syracuse Men's Basketball…The ball is signed by former Syracuse players such as Michael Carter-Williams, Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair, Trevor Cooney, Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche, Mookie Jones, Rakeem Christmas, Kris Joseph and James Southerland… The Pioneers will also be wearing pink uniforms to promote breast cancer awareness.   
 
Last Time Out: In UC's last outing, the team was defeated by Alfred University 69-57… Junior Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) led the Pioneers with 20 points, marking her second straight game with 20 or more points… Mayo also added a team-best seven rebounds and seven steals…  Sophomore Rachel Hunter (West Islip, NY/West Islip) had 13 points on the day, while junior Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) finished with 11.

Statistical Leaders: Mayo continues to lead the team in scoring as she averages 14.5 points per game … She currently ranks fifth in the Empire 8 in scoring … Babb leads the team in rebounds (5.4 per game), assists (4.1 per game), and steals (2.8 per game)… She also is the second leading scorer on the team, averaging 13.1 points a game … In the Empire 8, Babb ranks first in steals, second in assists, and tenth in scoring. 

Helping Out: Sophomore Rachel Hunter (West Islip, NY/West Islip) is averaging a career-high 8.0 points per game… She has also brought down 86 rebounds on the season, for an average of 3.9 per game… Junior Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) is averaging 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, while senior Calypso Carty (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) rounds out the top five scorers with 5.0 points per game.
 
Scouting Ithaca: The Bombers, who are 20-3 overall, are currently on the top of the Empire 8 standings with a 12-2 mark in conference play... They are coming off a victory against Hartwick and are riding a nine game winning streak… Ithaca has three players averaging double figures in points per game consisting of Jordan Beers, Erin Ferguson, and Ali Ricchiuti…The Bombers are first in the conference in scoring offense and defense and are beating their opponents by an average of 15 points per game.
 
Against Ithaca: In the last matchup against these two teams, UC fell to Ithaca 70-56… Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) scored a team-high 17 points, which marked her seventh straight double-digit scoring effort, to pace the Pioneers... Mayo also added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

 Looking Ahead:  The Pioneers will return to action Saturday against Elmira College for an Empire 8 matchup as the team will honor their seniors. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.