UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team stormed out to a 25-13 lead at the half, but could not hold on as the unbeaten Oneonta Red Dragons netted 37 second half points and held on for a 50-46 victory in the home opener for the Pioneers at the Clark Athletic Center on Tuesday night. 

Utica junior Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) led all scorers with a game-high 17 points and eight rebounds, while Bridgid Johndrow added 13 points as the Pioneers dropped their first contest of the season (2-1). Oneonta remained unbeaten and improved to 4-0 on the season. The visitors were led by 15 points and seven rebounds from Teresa Anken. 

UC held the visitors to just five field goals in the first half. On the flip side, Utica shot 10-for-25 from the floor in the first half, including three second quarter 3-pointers, as the Pioneers earned a convincing 25-13 lead as the halftime horn sounded. The Pioneers led by as many as 14 points, 25-11, following Conkin's 3-pointer with 47 seconds to go in the first half of play. 

Oneonta came alive in the second half as the Red Dragons converted 14 field goals in the final 20 minutes of play. Utica's offense went cold in the second half, converting 7-of-26 field goals in the third and four quarters. Oneonta used an 18-6 run in a span of 9:39 to widdle its deficit down to two points, 31-29, with 1:28 to go in the third quarter of play. 

A 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter gave the Red Dragons a 41-35 advantage with 5:49 to go in regulation.  The visitors would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the contest and held on for the four point victory. 

UC returns to the hardwood on Monday when the Pioneers host Hamilton College for non-conference action at 7 p.m.

UC's Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) netted eight points and grabbed six rebounds, while freshman Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold), the reigning Empire 8 Rookie of the Week, snagged 11 boards and also scored four points. Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London) and Cortlynn Jepsen (Hudson, NY/Hudson) each posted two points on the evening off the bench for the Pioneers.