Utica, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team will be on the road for double Empire 8 action over the weekend … On Friday, the Pioneers will face off against Houghton College as the game starts at 6 p.m. … On Saturday, the team matches up against Alfred University, as the contest is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: In UC's last outing, the team was defeated by Hartwick College, 64-47 … Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) led the team with 18 points in the contest … Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) finished with seven points and a team-high of 10 rebounds … Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) added eight points of her own on 3-for-4 shooting from the field … With the loss, the Pioneers drop to 6-15 overall, and are 4-8 in conference play.
 
Statistical Leaders: Mayo continues to lead the team in scoring as she averages 13.6 points per game … She currently ranks seventh in the Empire 8 in scoring … Babb leads the team in rebounds (5.7 per game), assists (4 per game), steals (3 per game), and blocks (0.4 per game). She also is the second leading scorer on the team, averaging 13.4 points a game … In the Empire 8, Babb ranks tenth in scoring, second in assists, and first in steals.
 
UC's Guard Combo: The two leading scorers for the Pioneers are Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) and Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) … The team scores an average of 56.9 points per game, as Mayo and Babb average 27 points per game combined … This calculates to the teammates scoring 47% of the team's points this season … There has been only one game all season where neither of these two led the team in scoring … Both players play an average of 35 minutes per game or more … When it comes to facilitating the ball, combined the two average six assists per game … The team averages 10.8 assists per game on the season, meaning Babb and Mayo account for more than 50% of the team's assists.
 
Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders currently own a record of 10-11 overall and are 4-8 in conference play … The team most recently lost to Nazareth by a score of 81-67 … In the contest, Brittany Lenart led the team with 22 points and five rebounds … Elle Reed is Houghton's leading scorer as she averages 14.2 points per game, good for sixth in the Empire 8 in scoring … Hannah Manwaring leads the team with an average of seven rebounds a game which is ranked ninth in the conference.
 
Against Houghton: In the last matchup against these two teams, UC fell to Houghton at home, 65-61 … Lenart led the Highlanders in scoring with 22 points, while Reed scored 18 points of her own … Mayo was UC's top scorer as she recorded 20 points and six rebounds … The Pioneers will look to get revenge after losing a close contest in the last meeting with Houghton.
 
Scouting Alfred: The Saxons are currently sitting at 2-19 overall and 0-12 in the Empire 8 … The last contest for the team ended in a 74-42 loss to St. John Fisher … Amanda Off led the Saxons in scoring with 11 points in the game … Off is the team's top scorer as she averages 15.1 points per game, good for fourth in the Empire 8 in scoring … She also is ranked eighth in the conference in rebounds, as she grabs 7.3 boards per game.
 
Against Alfred: In the previous meeting between UC and Alfred this season, the Pioneers earned the 69-55 victory … Alfred's Amanda Off recorded game-highs of 29 points and 13 rebounds … Babb did it all for Utica in the contest, finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and seven steals … Mayo contributed 16 points of her own on 8-for-13 shooting from the floor.
 
Looking ahead:  The Pioneers will return to action on Valentine's Day, February 14^th, as they will be hosting Ithaca College (19-3 overall, 11-2 E8) … This Empire 8 matchup is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.