ALBANY, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell in its Empire 8 opener to Russell Sage College 78-65 on Friday night.
 
The Gators started off hot and used a trifecta of three-pointers to jump out to a 16-4 edge halfway through the first quarter. Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) helped lead a comeback for the Pioneers as the team cut the Gator lead to just 21-16 at the end of the first. 
 
The Utica run continued as Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) hit a three-pointer to begin the second quarter which trimmed the Sage lead to 23-19. Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) hit a jump shot followed by a pair of Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) layups to give Utica a 25-23 advantage for its first lead of the contest. However, Sage kept tying the game every time Utica looked to pull away and the game was tied 30-30 entering the half.
 
The teams exchanged blows in the third frame as Soriano nailed three straight three-pointers to tie the game at 39-39. Sage led 50-48 with two minutes left in the third quarter and ended the frame up 56-51.
 
The Gators started to create breathing room in the fourth quarter and led 66-53 with seven minutes to play. Although Utica kept fighting while looking to mount another comeback, Sage hung on to win 78-65.
 
The Pioneers were led by Soriano who was on fire tonight shooting 5-7 from beyond the arc with 23 points. Soriano also collected five rebounds with two assists and two steals. Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) finished with nine points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) also added eight points, five rebounds, and five assists in the contest.
 
Utica (4-2, 0-1 Empire 8) will travel to face Hartwick College on Saturday, December 3 at 2 p.m in another Empire 8 contest.