TROY, NY- The Utica College women's basketball team got back in the win column as it held on to defeat Russell Sage College 80-71 in Empire 8 Conference action Tuesday evening.  Five players scored in the double figures for the Pioneers.
 
Utica had a monster second quarter, outscoring Sage 25-6 leading to a 46-26 ledger at halftime in favor of UC.  The Gators clawed back however in the third quarter to come within six.  Sage continued to chip away at the Utica lead and trailed by just one point with just 3:17 remaining in regulation before the Pioneers were able to regain control.   Sage's comeback was thanks in part to 8-of-12 shooting from three-point land by Sammy Pasinella.
 
Utica was led by senior Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) who finished with 20 points, including six threes.  DeMarco also dished out a team-high six assists on the evening.  Graduate student Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) netted 18 points and added three steals and two blocks.  Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) meanwhile chipped in with 16 points, half of which came on free throws.  Przygoda finished the night going 8-for-10 from the charity strip and she moved into tenth place all-time with 1,065 points in her career at UC.
 
Senior Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London) finished with 14 points and six boards, while Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) picked up her second double-double of the season as she scored 10 points and came down with a team-leading 12 rebounds.  Kristine Miller (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) also scored for the Pioneers.
 
Utica improves to 13-2 on the year (4-2 Empire 8).  The Pioneers will now return to Miga Court for a string of three home games beginning Friday as they host Alfred University.  Game time is 5:30 p.m.