UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell to Elmira College 54-42 on Saturday night in an Empire 8 bout.
 
McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) had a great performance against her old team as she dropped a season-high 17 points, with five rebounds, one block, and one steal. Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) continued to fill the stat sheet with four points, six rebounds, four assists, and one block. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) and Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) each poured in six points with at least four rebounds. 
 
The Pioneers had a field day on the glass as they corralled 50 rebounds to Elmira's 35. The rebounds were able to create plenty of second chance opportunities for Utica. The Pioneers continued its strong defense as the team forced twelve turnovers leading to eleven fast break points. Utica's defense forced four steals as Simmons, Soriano, Geraci, and Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane), each recorded one.
 
Utica held the Soaring Eagles to just 2-for-13 from beyond the arc and 35.4 percent from the field. Desiree Roy led the charge for Elmira as she recorded eight points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Neveah Winston scored 12 points, five assists, and three rebounds and was the team's top scorer.
 
Simmons started the game off nailing two three pointers to give Utica a 6-0 edge just over a minute and half into the game. The teams battled back and forth, and Elmira took an 11-10 lead at the end of the first. Utica held a 15-13 edge halfway through the second frame, yet the Soaring Eagles led 22-18 at the half. The Pioneers battled the entire second half and kept the game close, but Elmira would hold on for a 54-42 victory.
 
Utica (7-6, 2-4 Empire 8) will host Alfred University on Saturday, January 14 at 2 p.m.