UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's basketball team opens up Empire 8 Conference play at home Tuesday evening as it hosts St. John Fisher College.  Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers suffered their first home loss of the season on Saturday, falling to Union College 61-53…   Utica controlled the majority of play in the first half and took a took a 36-22 lead into the locker room at halftime, however the visitors came out flying in the second half to earn the victory… Ashley Mayo (Bronx, NY/Nanuet) led the way for Utica with 16 points and she also added four steals, while junior Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) netted 12 points… Freshman Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) had a season-high eight points and five steals. 
 
LEADING THE WAY: Seniors Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) and Ashley Mayo (Bronx, NY/Nanuet) lead the team in scoring with 13.0 and 12.3 points per game, respectively… Babb has a team-high 34 assists, while Mayo leads the conference with 24 steals and 2.7 steals per game. 
 
HEATING UP: Junior Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) has had an impressive showing as of late… over the last four games, she is averaging 12.0 points and 6.75 rebounds per game… On the season, she ranks third on the team with 82 points. 
 
SCOUTING FISHER: The Cardinals are 4-4 overall and they are coming off a 79-66 win at Brockport on Saturday… Caroline Robertson leads the team with 11.9 points per game, while Erin Hulbert has 10.3 points per game and leads the squad with 7.8 rebounds per game.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers remain at home on Friday as they face Nazareth College… Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.