ALBANY, NY -- The Utica College women's team was unable to hold onto a first quarter lead, as they eventually fell to Sage College 80-65 in the regular season finale. The pair will meet again at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, as Utica earned the three-seed in the Empire 8 Tournament, beating out Hartwick and Nazareth in a three-way tie.

The Pioneers owned a 22-18 lead after the first quarter, thanks to an 11-point run to erase an early deficit. Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had five points in the scoring sequence, with a layup and a made-trey, while Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) posted a layup and a pair of free throws. DeMarco would post one more bucket from behind the arc before the clock ran out. 

UC led for the majority of the second stanza, but saw its lead chipped away, ending knotted at 40. Senior Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) led her team through the quarter with six points, all collected on layups. 

The third quarter is when things began to head in the wrong direction, as the hosting Gators were able to officially gain control, after seeing several lead changes in the opening minutes. They never led by more than three points, thanks to eight more points courtesy of Conkin. 

Sage put the game away in the final period of play, despite Kristine Miller (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) giving Utica a 59-58 lead with 8:25 remaining in the contest. The Gators were able to build a 15 point lead, denying the Pioneers any points in the final four minutes. 

Conkin led her team offensively with 18 points and 11 assists for a double-double. She also added a team-best four steals paired with four rebounds.

Pryzgoda also reached double-double territory with her 17 points and game-high 11 rebounds.

Miller was perfect from the field, sinking all three of her attempts for six points. The rookie also had four rebounds and two steals.

#3 Utica will take on #2 Sage once again, this time in the E8 semifinals hosted by #1 St. John Fisher College. The pair will face off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.