UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team begins a four-game homestand this week. The team begins by facing Hartwick College on Friday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m. and finishing off its week on Saturday, January 28 at 2 p.m. against Russell Sage College.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend can tune in for live video and/or stats via https://bit.ly/2wtxUV5. 
 
Last Time Out: 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.
 
Where We Stand: The Pioneers are seventh in the Empire 8 standings with a record of 8-8 and are 3-6 in conference play. The team remains efficient in scoring as it is shooting .375 percent from the field this season which ranks third in the conference. The long ball has been a nice part of the offense as the team has done well from beyond the arc shooting .279 as a team which is fourth in the Empire 8. Utica's rebounding has been terrific as the team hauls in 45.3 rebounds per game which is top in the conference. 
 
Stackin it up: Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) has been having a strong season and has been able to score in bunches and haul in rebounds. She has scored at least nine points with at least five rebounds in four straight games. She has recorded one double-double during this run and dropped 10 points and eight rebounds in the team's last outing against Medaille.
 
Perimeter Threat: McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) has poured in more than 14 points and five rebounds in three of her last four outings. The standout freshman has shot well from beyond the arc going 12-for-26 during the four game stretch. Her ability to crash the glass has been terrific as she has recorded seven or more rebounds in her last three games including her first career double-double in the team's last outing against Medaille.
 
Block Fest: Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) and Kristine Miller (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) have been great paint defenders this season and have started piling up the blocks. Geraci has totaled five blocks in her last three games including a season-high three blocks against Alfred on January 14. Miller has recorded a block in three-straight games including at least one block in nine of her thirteen games played this season. Miller recorded a season-high three blocks against Houghton on January 20.
 
Scouting Hartwick: The Hawks are 4-11 this season and sport a 2-7 record in conference play which has them ninth in the Empire 8 standings. In its last outing the team fell to Nazareth College 57-46 on Saturday, January 21. The team is led by Bree Fargnoli who leads the team averaging 8.7 points per game and shooting .269 from beyond the arc. Morgan Perry and Isabella Astorino are other viable scoring options with both averaging more than 7.2 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game. Angelina Maselli is the team's top perimeter threat having made 16 three-point field goals this season. 
 
Sage Preview: The Gators are 9-7 this season and are 5-4 in Empire 8 play which has them in fifth place. The team fell to St. John Fisher 95-70 in its last outing on Saturday, January 21. The Gators have a fantastic duo of scorers as Syrita Faraj and Giuliana Pritchard are two of the top four scorers in the Empire 8. Faraj is averaging a whopping 18.9 points per game which is 3.1 points per game better than anyone in the conference and has scored 303 points this season which is 82 more than second place. Pritchard is fourth in the Empire 8 averaging 13.8 points per game. Lauren Sanderson, Sammy Pasinella, and Layla Acosta are all viable scoring options and Sanderson and Acosta shoot 39.6 percent or better from beyond the arc.

Up Next: After this week, Utica will remain home to face Nazareth College on Tuesday, January 31 at 5:30 p.m.