UTICA, NY – The Utica College women's basketball team looks to return to winning in a 7:30 p.m. Empire 8 Conference contest with Hartwick College on Tuesday evening.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers went 1-1 in conference play over the weekend to move to 4-3, 11-7 overall. They took down Houghton College 68-60 on the road Friday evening, led by Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) with a team-best 26 points and 10 rebounds. Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) was close behind, posting 17 points and a squad-best four steals.

Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led the squad in scoring with 24 points, going 6-for-11 beyond the arc in Saturday's 88-82 overtime loss at Alfred University. A trio of Pioneers also posted double-doubles, while Conkin neared a triple-double. The Los Altos, CA native was just two steals shy of the feat, finishing the day with 14 points, 10 assists and eight steals. Przygoda, who continues to average a double-double, collected her 14^th of the season on 22 points and 11 rebounds. Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) added her name to the list with 17 points and a crisp 10 boards.

Nationally Competitive: As of Jan. 24, Conkin regained her title as the top assister in Division III women's basketball, while ranking fourth in assists per game. Ranking 10^th in field goal percentage is Przygoda, who also ranks 20^th in field goals made.
 
Scouting Hartwick: Since their last meeting with UC, the Hawks have gone 3-1 in the conference to match Utica's 4-3 E8 record, 10-8 overall. 'Wick also went 1-1 over the weekend, kicking it off with a 69-51 win at Nazareth on Friday. Maggie Kirby and Giulana Pritchard led their squad offensively against the Golden Flyers, each collecting 20 points apiece. In Saturday's 62-54 loss at St. John Fisher College, Mary Schoenerr posted a team best 16 points and seven rebounds.

Last Meeting: The pair last met at Hartwick on Jan. 11, when the Pioneers were able to come away with a 67-60 win. Przygoda led the team offensively, collecting 19 points and 19 rebounds.

Leading the Empire 8: UC continues to lead the conference in points per game (75.2), total points scored (1,353) and scoring margin (12.7), tying for third overall based on in-conference record with the Hawks. Conkin, the Pioneer's starting guard remains the conference leader in assists (124), assists per game (6.9), steals (67) and steals per game (3.7). She is the runner-up in made three-pointers (47), made three-pointers per game (2.6), and made field goals (119), ranking third in points per game (18.4). Leading the conference in points (337), made field goals (135) and field goal percentage (.597) is Przygoda. The Freehold, NJ native ranks second in points per game (18.7), rebounds (195) and rebounds per game (10.8). DeMarco leads the E8 in made treys (49) and treys per game (2.7).

For Hartwick, Pritchard ranks in the top-5 in several categories, ranking second in blocks with 25 and blocks per game, averaging 1.4. She ranks fourth in rebounds per game with 9.1. Ranking fifth in rebounds per game is Schoenerr, averaging 8.2. Maggie Kirby rounds out Hawks ranked in the top-5, owning second in made free throws with 76, fourth in points per game with 14.7 and fifth in free throw percentage with a mark of .738.
 
Up Next: The Pioneers will travel to Elmira College on Saturday, set to do battle at 4 p.m.