Utica, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team is set to host its annual UC Hoops Cares game on Saturday, as the Pioneers welcome Houghton College. This Empire 8 matchup is set to tip-off at 4 p.m.
UC Hoops Cares: The Pioneers are dedicating Saturday's game to Utica Police Officer and former UC lacrosse player, Ben Winkler '13, who recently passed away. The team has organized a 50/50 raffle and a bake sale that will take place during the men's (2 p.m.) and women's (4 p.m.) games. All funds collected at the event will be donated to the Northern NY Community Foundation, which will be designated to create a scholarship in honor of Officer Ben Winkler.
Last Time Out: The team fell to Nazareth in its last game, 59-46, as UC's record dropped to 7-12 overall and 3-7 in E8 competition.
Ashley Mayo (Bronx, NY/Nanuet) scored a team-high 10 points, while
Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) finished with nine points and five assists.
Maggie Tabone (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) grabbed eight rebounds off the bench in just 13 minutes of playing time.
Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) recorded eight points, five boards, and two steals in the loss.
The Pioneers' Schedule: Following this weekend's game against Houghton, the Pioneers have just five games remaining on the schedule for the regular season. The team will travel for three consecutive games against Sage, Hartwick, and Elmira next week. After the three game road trip, UC returns home for the final two home games of the season, with matchups against Alfred and Stevens. Every game matters for Utica, on its quest for an Empire 8 Tournament berth.
Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders are currently holding a record of 11-8 overall and they are 7-3 within the Empire 8. The team most recently defeated conference foe, Alfred, 57-43. Brittany Lenart led Houghton to victory, as she tallied 16 points and seven rebounds. Emily Swanson came up short of a double-double, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds in the win. Cori Beck tallied four steals and eight assists, while Amber Edwards poured in 11 points off the bench. Lenart's 10.9 points per game leads the team and Leslie Moose's 6.3 boards per game is also tops on the team.
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers hit the the road February 6th, as they travel to battle Sage for the first of a three game stretch away from home. The game is set to begin at 8 p.m.
