BUFFALO, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell to the Medaille University Mavericks 54-50 on Saturday afternoon in an Empire 8 clash. 
 
McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) led the way for Utica with 14 points and 10 rebounds in her first career double-double. Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) turned in another big game with 10 points and eight rebounds and it was her second straight game with more than nine points and six rebounds. Veteran Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) poured in nine points with three assists. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) filled the stat sheet with six points, four rebounds, and four assists.
 
Utica forced 13 turnovers which resulted in eight points off of turnovers. The Pioneers scored 22 points in the paint and its bench poured in 18 points. The team continued to shoot well from beyond the arc going 6-for-17 for the game. Utica's defense played well forcing six blocks and six steals. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville), and Kristine Miller (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) each recorded two blocks. Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led the team with two steals while McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook), Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial), Julia Rotundo, and Emma Puleri (Lee, MA/Lee Middle and High School) each recorded one.
 
The Pioneers lead 2-0 as Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) recorded two blocks leading to a McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) layup. Utica led 10-6 halfway through the first quarter before Medaille took an 11-10 edge. The teams kept exchanging buckets and the first frame ended 14-14.
 
Utica started the second quarter on an 8-0 run as Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) had five points during the run and Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) nailed a three pointer. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) hit one from beyond the arc to extend the Pioneer lead to 25-16. Utica led 30-22 before the Mavericks tied the game at 30-30 off an 8-0 scoring run. The Pioneers battled back and led 32-30 at the end of the first half. 
 
The defenses tightened up in the second half and were forcing tough shots. Medaille led 37-36 halfway through the third frame, yet a McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) three pointer tied the game at 41-41. But Medaille responded with two three pointers of its own to open a 47-41 edge. Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) hit a jumper as time was expiring to cut the Mavericks lead to 47-43 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Medaille led 52-45 halfway through the final frame yet Utica responded with a 4-0 run to be down just 52-49 with under 4 minutes to play. Medaille held on to win 54-50 in a very tough Empire 8 battle.
 
Utica (8-8, 3-6 Empire 8) will return home to host Hartwick College on Friday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m.