Utica, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team is ready to open up its 2018-2019 campaign on the road at SUNY Potsdam, Tuesday night. The season opener is scheduled to tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
 
New Year New Faces: UC is welcoming seven new faces to this year's squad to represent the incoming freshman class. The first year Pioneers include Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London), Deanna Rosato (Utica, NY/Notre Dame), Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold), Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Madison O'Hagan (Seaford, NY/Seaford), Sydney Sheldon (Mayfield, NY/Mayfield), and Ginamarie Pizza (Maywood, NJ/Bergen Tech). Be on the lookout for the new members of the team and the impact they might have on the season.
 
Returners: After graduating a handful of players last year, Utica is bringing back four seniors along with six other returning players. The senior class is comprised of Cortlynn Jepsen (Hudson, NY/Hudson), Nicole Herringshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain), and Alayna Cormier (Williamsburg, VA/Warhill). Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead), Marissa Woods (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley), and Sam Cichon (Clinton, NY/New Hartford) are representatives of the junior class, while Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic), Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial), and Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) are all entering their sophomore season.
 
Last Season Recap: The Pioneers finished last season 9-16 overall and 5-11 in Empire 8 competition. Sophomores Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial) (20 3PM), Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) (16 3PM), and Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) (14 3PM) were all top five 3-point shooters for the team during the 2017-2018 season. Johndrow and teammate Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) are the remaining two players from last year's starting lineup. Florian was the most productive of the returners from last season, as she averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Her top performance from 2017-18 was when she recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Hartwick.
 
Schedule Layout: UC will begin the year with a pair of road games before hosting its home opener on November 20^th against Oneonta to start a five game home stand. The Pioneers will follow up its streak at home with a seven-game road trip, spanning from December 15^th at Morrisville to January 15^th at Hartwick. Empire 8 Conference play will begin after the start of the new year, on January 4^th against Sage. The E8 Conference Tournament is set to begin on February 22^nd, as Utica looks to get back to the tournament for the first time since the 2010-2011 season.
 
Scouting Potsdam: The Potsdam Bears are currently 0-1 to start the year, after losing its season opener at home, 62-46, to St. Lawrence. Devyn Elliott was the top player for Potsdam in the loss, finishing with 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals. No other member of the team reached double-digits in the contest. As a whole, the team shot 28.8% from the floor and turned the ball over 18 times against St. Lawrence. The Pioneers defeated Potsdam at home, 66-49, in last year's season opener.
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers are back in action this weekend, as they hit the road to take on Wells College Saturday afternoon. The game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.