UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's basketball team looks to keep its momentum going as it hits the road this weekend for a pair of Empire 8 Conference contests. The Pioneers will face Elmira on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. then a quick turnaround as they travel to Nazareth for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday afternoon.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers are fresh off an exciting victory over the Sage Colleges, 84-82 on Tuesday, thanks in part to a three-pointer by Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) with five seconds remaining to give UC the lead… Conkin led the charge offensively for Utica with a season-high 25 points to go with 12 assists for her first double-double of the season… Freshman Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) also put in a double-double performance with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the game and 14 rebounds… Utica also received offensive help from Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial) and Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic), who each reached the double-digits in points with 14 and 11, respectively. 
 
Syd The Kid: Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) is having a stellar freshman season as she is first in the Empire 8 with 250 rebounds and an average of 12.5 rebounds per game… Przygoda's 6.0 offensive rebounds per game rank third in the country… She also leads the Pioneers with 14.7 points per game.
 
Dishing it out: Junior Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) leads the E8 with 5.0 assists per game… She has had two outings this season with over ten assists… Conkin is also second on the squad with 11.3 points per game… Sophomore Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) is fifth in the conference with 4.2 assists per game and she ranks third on the Pioneers with 10.1 points per game. 
 
Scouting Elmira: The Elmira Soaring Eagles are 5-15 overall and 1-10 in the Empire 8 coming into the game on Friday... Elmira's hot hand this year is Lindsey Heaton who has 311 points and 68 assists on the season... Utica will have to control Heaton and keep her off the board during Friday's game.
 
Last Time Against Elmira: The Pioneers split with the Soaring Eagles in their series last year, with the home team winning each game… UC defeated Elmira 62-53 at home, thanks in part to a 12-point evening by Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic), while Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) chipped in with 10 points… Elmira rebounded to earn a 63-49 win on its home court in the series finale. 
 
Scouting Nazareth: The Golden Flyers are 13-7 and 8-3 in Empire 8 competition this season, sitting tied for third in the conference standings… Naz is coming off a 68-44 loss at Stevens last Saturday…Rachel Benedict  is first in the E8 with 354 points this season.
 
Last Time Vs Nazareth: Utica fell to Nazareth 71 - 61 at home on Jan. 26…
Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) scored 15 points and added six assists, while Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) had 13 points and eight boards… Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial) got involved all over the court, totaling nine points and adding two rebounds and three assists. 
 
Looking Ahead: Utica will have a busy week next week with three home games in four days starting with a Wednesday evening contest against Elmira… Game time is 5:30 p.m.