Oneonta, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team faced-off against Hartwick on the road, Thursday night. The Pioneers lost, 67-63, as they drop to 8-14 overall and 4-9 in Empire 8 competition.
 
Hartwick played strong defense in the first, earning a 6-0 lead with 5:37 on the clock. Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial) hit two shots from beyond the arc to help keep Utica within four points, heading into the second quarter. The Pioneers went on a 13-0 run in the span of 4:42, to take a 25-16 lead with 5:18 remaining before halftime. Back-to-back finishes in the paint to close the half, earned UC a 10-point advantage at the mid-game break. Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) and Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial) combined for 12 points in the first half, on a combined 4-for-5 shooting from 3-point range.
 
The Hawks started the third quarter on a 6-0 run to cut Utica's lead to just four points. A pair of free throws from Hartwick's Kelly Pine narrowed the lead even more, making the score read 42-41 with 3:48 left on the clock. UC would enter the fourth quarter holding a two-point advantage. A couple of quick baskets from Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) helped the team extend its lead to seven points with 6:35 left in regulation. A 7-0 run in just 1:15 gave Hartwick a 61-59 lead with less than three minutes to play. The Pioneers tried to regain the lead, but the Hawks made just enough free throws down the stretch to hold on for the four-point win.
 
Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) notched a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) recorded 12 points and nine assists, while Jeslyn Files (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) poured in 12 points (4-for-6 3-pt) off the bench. Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) tallied 10 points, nine boards, two blocks, and two steals in the loss.
 
Hartwick improves to 6-16 overall and 5-8 in conference play, behind Caitlin Corbett's game-high 20 points. Carly Johnson put up 14 points and eight boards, as teammate Kelly Pine registered 13 points.
 
The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, as they travel to Elmira for another E8 contest. The game is set to tip-off at 4 p.m.