UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's basketball team will start its three-game road trip this weekend as the team travels to Keuka College on Friday and Elmira College on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Last Time Out: UC came away with a thrilling 55-54 win over Russell Sage College in Empire 8 Conference action last Saturday afternoon to improve to 16-2 on the season and 11-0 at home. The Pioneers were led by senior guard
Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London), who finished with a game-high 20 points, including going 9-for-9 on free throws, and graduate student guard
Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic), who had 18 points and three steals for Utica. 21 of the Pioneers' points came from the free throw line, as the team made 95.4 percent of its free throws en route to the one point victory.
Conference Outlook: The Pioneers are currently second in the Empire 8 with a 16-2 (7-2 Empire 8) overall record. The No.22 St. John Fisher Cardinals (16-2, 8-1 Empire 8) currently hold the number one spot in the conference, followed by Hartwick College (12-5, 7-2 Empire 8) and Nazareth College (11-6, 6-2 Empire 8). The remaining five teams in the conference are all either .500 or below in the conference and overall.
All Ball: Utica is currently third in the nation and first in the Empire 8 in fewest personal fouls per game (10.5). While committing the least number of fouls per game, the Pioneers are taking the ball away more than anyone in the conference. UC's 229 steals and 12.7 steals per game average sit them atop the conference in those respective categories.
Charity Stripe Success: UC is coming off one of its best games from the free throw line in recent memory. In the 55-54 win over the Russell Sage Gators, the Pioneers shot 21-22 from the line, led by senior
Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London) who was 9-for-9. Sawyer is currently second in the Empire 8 with a 76.9 percentage from the free throw line, as senior
Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) is also second in the Empire 8 in free throws attempted (107) and free throws made (64).
Jazzy Johndrow: Graduate student
Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) has been a force for the Pioneers on both sides of the ball. Johndrow currently leads the Empire 8 in assist to turnover ratio (1.69), assists (93), assists per game (5.2), steals (53), steals per game (2.94) and she is one of only 12 players in Division III to record a triple double.
DeMarco From Deep: Senior guard
Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) is among conference leaders from beyond the arc. DeMarco ranks third in the Empire 8 in three-point percentage (32.0) and fourth in three pointers made (40). DeMarco has made at least one three-point shot in 15 of the 18 games the Pioneers have played this season. The team is also 7-0 when DeMarco attempts more than six three-point shots.
Upperclass Squad: The 16-2 Pioneers have not made any changes to the starting lineup this season. Senior guards
Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London) and
Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), graduate student
Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic), junior forward
Kristine Miller (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) and senior forward
Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) have started all 18 games together. Chemistry on the court is easy to see as all five girls have played together since the 2019-2020 season.
Passing Pioneers: A large part of the Pioneers' success this season has come from their ability to pass the ball. As a team, Utica leads the Empire 8 in total assists (327) and assists per game (18.2), and are second in the conference in assist to turnover ratio (1.00). Graduate student
Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) leads the conference in assists per game (5.2), and has 22 more assists than second place. Due to the amount of open looks generated from spreading the ball around, UC is atop the Empire 8 in field goal percentage (39.9).
About Keuka: The Wolves are currently at the bottom of the conference standings with a 1-17 (0-10 Empire 8) overall record. Keuka is led by junior guard Lauren Hill (10.3 points per game) and graduate student guard Amelia Poole (9.9 points per game). Utica is 7-10 all-time against the Wolves, and are currently riding a three-game win streak against Keuka since 2003. The last time the two teams played was on Jan. 8, 2022, where the Pioneers won by its largest scoring margin against Keuka, in a 65-32 triumph on Miga Court.
Evaluating Elmira: Elmira College is currently 8-10 (3-7 Empire 8) on the season and will finish a three-game road trip before heading home to face Utica on Saturday. The Soaring Eagles are led by Alyssa Waters (12.6 points per game), Desiree Roy (12.1 points per game) and Taylor Albrecht (11.3 points per game). Utica is 32-28 all-time against Elmira. The last time the two teams played was on Jan. 7, 2022, where the UC took down Elmira 81-50.
Looking Ahead: After the three-game road trip for Utica, the team will be back at home on Friday, Feb. 11, when they take on Nazareth College. Tip-off from Miga Court will be at 5:30 p.m.
