PURCHASE, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell to Manhattanville College 64-39 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) led the team with 10 points, five rebounds, and one steal on the afternoon. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) did well in the paint today tallying seven points with five rebounds and one assist. Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) was effective in all facets of the game dropping four points with a team-high four steals with one rebound and one block. McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) was also active defensively recording three steals and continues to be lockdown defensively this season.
 
Manhattanville jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead to begin the game, yet a pair of Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) free throws trimmed the lead to 5-2. The Valiants then sparked a 12-point scoring run to hold a 17-2 advantage halfway through the frame. Utica started to chip away by getting to the free throw line with made free throws by Hall, Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane), and McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) to trail 20-9 after one.
 
The Pioneers tried to work the ball inside more with Haley Burchardt and Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) converting early buckets. Yet, the Valiants played a strong defensive quarter to take a 38-15 edge into halftime.
 
Manhattanville continued to force pressure in the third quarter causing Utica to take time to set up its offense. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East), and Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) each scored during the frame with Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) hitting one from beyond the arc. But the Valiants took a 60-25 edge into the final quarter of play.
 
The Pioneers played great in the fourth quarter outscoring the Valiants 14-4. Hannah Godkin, Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East), Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central), Kieara Kirvan (Ledyard, CT/Ledyard), and Jordan Carmosino (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional) all scored in the quarter. Utica played excellent defense leading to a few transition buckets and was able to set up its offense nicely, yet Manhattanville hung on for a 64-39 victory.
 
Utica (0-4, 0-0 Empire 8) will return home to host crosstown rival SUNY Poly on Tuesday, November 21 at 4 p.m.