UTICA, NY- The Utica University women's basketball team fell to Hartwick College 60-47 in Friday evening's Empire 8 matchup.  
 
Three members of the Pioneers finished in double figures in the loss as Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) totaled 13 points, McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) had 12, and Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) totaled 10. DeMarco would add six rebounds and three steals. Simmons stuffed the stat sheet with six assists, four rebounds, and a whopping six steals. Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) added six points, Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) had four, and Kelsey Carter (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) rounded out the Pioneers scoring with two.  
 
Seven minutes into the first, Utica held a 14-7 lead and were playing great basketball, with buckets coming from five different scorers. Hartwick would rally in the final three minutes of the quarter to tie the game at 14 at the end of the first.  
 
The second quarter provided back-and-forth action as both teams continued to fight in what was a largely even first half. DeMarco paced the second quarter offense with six points in the frame. After making a free throw early in the quarter, she would add the final five points in the second with the layup and a three pointer. Hartwick would hold a 27-24 lead going into halftime.  
 
The Hartwick defense would tighten up in the third quarter as they allowed only seven points and stretched its lead to seven. The Pioneers would fight until the end in the fourth quarter but came up short down the stretch and ultimately fell 60-47.  
 
The Pioneers gave a great defensive effort with 24 forced turnovers and 16 steals, leading to 21 points off turnovers and 12 fast break points. 
  
Utica (8-9, 3-7 Empire 8) will host Russell Sage College at 2 p.m. on Saturday.