UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team beat Alfred University 59-53 on Saturday afternoon to notch its third Empire 8 victory of the season.
 
McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) continued her scorching start to her Pioneer career as she dropped a career-high 21 points on 5-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc. The freshman also corralled eight rebounds with two blocks. Veteran Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) dropped nine points with seven rebounds and Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) poured in eight points with four rebounds. Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) turned in one of her best games this season with six points, two rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) continued to leave an impact on both ends of the floor as she scored six points with eight rebounds, three assists, and a season-high three blocks. 
 
Utica's offense started out hot as buckets by McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook), Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), and Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) put the team up 6-0 with 6:45 left in the first quarter. Alfred rallied to tie the game at 6-6 before a pair of Simmons three pointers gave the Pioneers a 12-6 advantage with just three minutes left in the quarter. Utica ended the first quarter up 16-9 as Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) hit a layup in the waning seconds of the frame. 
 
The Pioneer offense continued to shine as the team led 25-11 halfway through the period as Madelyn Cozzens (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) each dropped a pair of buckets in the frame. Utica paired physical defense with its stellar offense to take a 29-20 lead into the half.
 
Both defenses tightened up as the teams combined for just seventeen points in the third quarter. Utica outscored Alfred 10-7 in the frame and took a 39-27 edge heading into the fourth quarter. The Pioneers led 55-43 with just 44 seconds to play, yet Alfred cut the lead to just five with 24 seconds remaining. Utica would nail clutch free throws to hang on and defeat Alfred 59-53 in a brilliant outing from the team on both sides of the ball.
 
Utica played phenomenal on defense and the team recorded nine blocks led by Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) with three. Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) and McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) each had two blocks while Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) and Madelyn Cozzens (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) each collected one. The Pioneers shot well today shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range. 
 
Utica (8-6, 3-4 Empire 8) will head to face Houghton University on Friday, January 20 at 5:30 p.m.