UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's basketball team ran out of time as it dropped its Empire 8 Conference opener to visiting Sage, 71-66 Tuesday evening.  
 
Utica turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors 29-20 in the final ten minutes, but it was not enough as UC dropped to 7-5 on the year.  The Pioneers return to action Friday as they host Elmira College.  Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
The Pioneers had the ball with 12 seconds remaining, down by three points.  Utica's last-ditch effort to tie the game bounced off the front of the rim and Sage gathered the rebound.  The Gators added a pair of free throws with two seconds remaining to secure the victory.  
 
Senior Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) finished with a game-high 27 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter to ignite the Utica comeback.  Conkin also dished out a team-high eight assists and added three steals.
 
Sophomore Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) and junior Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) each chipped in with nine points with Przygoda adding nine rebounds, while Soriano finished with seven boards to her credit.
 
Freshman Kristine Miller (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) made her presence felt defensively as she totaled four blocks on the evening, one off her season-high, in just under 20 minutes of work.  Miller also contributed six points offensively on 3-of-5 shooting.  
 
Sage was led by Megan Flynn and Kaitlyn Bowman, who each recorded double-doubles in the win.  Flynn finished with 24 points, 17 rebounds, while Bowman totaled 12 points and 16 boards.