UTICA, NY- The Utica College women's basketball team snuck out another win, this time downing Alfred University 60-54 in overtime in Empire 8 Conference action Friday evening.

With the win, Utica improves to 14-2 on the year (5-2 Empire 8). The Pioneers will turn right around to host Houghton College on Saturday.  Game time is 2 p.m.

Alfred took control of the game from the start, jumping out to a 21-9 lead in the first quarter.  Neither team could get anything going in the second quarter as they combined for six points total.  Alfred carried a 35-21 lead into the fourth quarter, and that is when the Pioneers began clawing back into the game. 

Utica rattled off nine points in the first 2:30 to tie things up, but sharp shooting by the Saxons from deep turned the tides back in favor of the visitors.  Alfred led by eight points with just 1:30 remaining, but a clutch three-pointer by senior Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London) gave Utica life.  Down by seven, Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) sunk a three from the corner for her first basket of the game with just 59 seconds left to make it a two-possession game. 

Sawyer hit a pair of free throws to bring the Pioneers within two with just 21 seconds remaining in regulation and a clutch steal by Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) gave the Pioneers the ball back with 18 seconds remaining. Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) made a layup and the defense held strong to force overtime.
The Pioneers took their first lead of the game 1:04 into overtime and would not relinquish it as they picked up their 14^th win of the season.

Sawyer led Utica with a game-high 22 points on the evening, while Przygoda recorded her eighth double-double of the year with 14 points and 15 rebounds, including 11 off the defensive glass.  Przygoda also tied for the team lead with four steals.
Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) chipped in with eight points, while Johndrow and Geraci each had six to their credit.  Johndrow also dished our four assists and finished with four steals.