UTICA, NY – Utica College women's basketball will hit the road for its final regular season contest of the season, set to take place Saturday at Sage. Game time is 4 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: UC secured a place in the Empire 8 conference tournament thanks to a close 68-61 win over Houghton on Tuesday evening. This will be the program's first appearance in the playoffs since the 2010-11 season. Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) and Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) both post double-doubles in the win. Przygoda did so on a team-best 18 points and 13 rebounds. Johndrow was close behind with 17 points and 10 rebounds, also adding a team-leading seven assists. Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) added 16 points of her own, paired a best three steals.
 
Where We Stand: The Pioneers have a record of 15-9 overall, and they currently sit at fourth in the conference with an 8-5 E8 record. Regardless of how the weekend goes, they will remain in the playoffs, but can be seeded anywhere from 2-4 depending on the finishes around the conference, also dependent on a win of their own.  
 
Last Time with the Gators: UC ran out of time as it dropped its E8 opener to visiting Sage, 71-66. Despite the eventual loss, it turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors 29-20 in the final ten minutes. Conkin finished with a game-high 27 points, 13 of which came in the final stanza. She also dished out eight assists and recorded three steals. Przygoda and 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.
 
Scouting Sage: The Gators are currently ranked second and have clinched a spot in the E8 tournament with a 9-4 conference record, 13-11 overall. They took down Naz 76-72 in a road matchup on Saturday, after falling to St. John Fisher 69-57 on Friday. Five of Sage's athletes scored in the double-digits, paced by graduate student Megan Flynn's 22 points, which she added to 14 rebounds for her 17^th career double-double.
 
Up Next: UC will travel to St. John Fisher on Friday to take part in Empire 8 Tournament. Seedings, opponents and times will be determined after Saturday's events conclude.