UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team collected its first win of the season over crosstown rival SUNY Poly 50-45 on Tuesday night.
 
McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) shined for the squad posting 12 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists and was doing it all for the team. Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) extended her double-digit scoring streak to five with 12 points while also hauling in five boards and doing well on defense with two blocks and one steal.
 
Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) poured in six points with six rebounds and Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) was terrific again with six points, four rebounds, four steals, and one block. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) was great on the glass scooping up a team-high seven rebounds while adding two points and a pair of assists.
 
Utica's defense was strong forcing 23 turnovers leading to 23 points off turnovers. The team picked off 15 passes and rejected five shots during the contest.
 
Utica wasted no time grabbing an early 5-0 lead with McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) scoring all five of the points. The defenses were tight in the first quarter forcing plenty of tough shots yet a late three-pointer by Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) helped Utica lead 12-6 after one.
 
McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) had a steal and fast break layup to put the Pioneers up 14-6 just 18 seconds into the frame. Utica was cruising as a bucket by Kieara Kirvan (Ledyard, CT/Ledyard) and free throws by Halvarson had the team up 22-8 just over halfway through the quarter. Yet, Poly ended the first half on an eight-point scoring run to cut the Utica halftime lead to 25-18.
 
The teams exchanged plenty of buckets throughout the third frame with Utica holding a 30-23 advantage halfway through. But Poly came storming back with a few quick scoring runs to knot the score at 35-35 with under two minutes remaining. However, the Pioneers rallied back and held a 38-35 edge after three.
 
Poly cut the lead to just two again to begin the fourth, but Utica had a small scoring run to lead 44-40 with just over five minutes remaining in the match. The Pioneers clanged onto a 44-43 edge with 3:50 to play yet played extraordinary offense and defense to close out the game and win it 50-45.
 
Utica (1-4, 0-0 Empire 8) will host Plattsburgh State on Monday, November 27 at 6 p.m. in the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Game.