Box Score UTICA, NY - The Utica University basketball team fell 81-53 to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 81-53 in its season opener on Wednesday night.
 
Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) led the team in scoring in her Pioneer debut with 12 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) was another top scoring option for the team with eight points and four rebounds while being a force down low on the block.
 
The duo of McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) and Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) were both strong on the glass with each hauling in at least five rebounds in the contest. Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) was the team's top facilitator dishing out three dimes and was setting up the offense all night. Lagase and Cristina Negron (Easthampton, MA/Williston Northampton) each had two steals while Lagase recorded Utica's two blocks in the game.
 
Utica (0-1, 0-0 Empire 8) will travel to face Hamilton College on Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m.