DELHI, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team topped SUNY Delhi 57-38 on Wednesday night to collect a non-conference victory.
 
It was a very balanced scoring night for the Pioneers as the team dropped at least 12 points in every quarter. Utica forced 25 Delhi turnovers which led to 33 points off turnovers and 22 fast break points for the squad. The Pioneers also shined defensively allowing just seven total points between the second and third quarters.
 
Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) led the team with 12 points, five rebounds, one block, and four steals and was producing on both ends of the floor. Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) was the team's second leading scorer and pushed her double-digit scoring streak to eight while hauling in seven rebounds.
 
Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) poured in six points with four rebounds and three steals with Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) hauling in a team-leading eight rebounds including an incredible six offensive boards. Jordan Carmosino (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional) was efficient, dropping seven points in seven minutes while shooting 2-for-3 from the field.
 
Delhi began the match with a two-pointer, yet Utica would take over with a commanding 10-4 lead halfway through the first quarter. The Broncos tied the contest before taking a brief 14-12 advantage, yet the Pioneers used a 5-0 run fueled by a Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) and-one to end the first quarter up 17-14.
 
Utica played a gritty second quarter outscoring Delhi 6-0 while not allowing the Broncos to score until just 3:49 left in the frame. The Pioneers were able to turn defense into quick offensive production with Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) splashing a three-pointer at the 1:38 mark. Carmosino had four points in the last 44 seconds to aid Utica in taking a 33-17 edge into halftime.
 
Delhi canned a three-pointer to begin the second half yet once again the Pioneers defense capitalized and turned defense into offense with an impressive 12-0 scoring run. Halvarson and Hall each were focal points of the run, each dropping at least four points during the stretch. Utica's strong quarter aided the team in holding a 45-21 advantage after three.
 
Utica's defense continued to be lights out and did not allow a basket for nearly four minutes which guided the team into taking a 53-23 lead at the 6:05 mark. Delhi put together a small scoring run, yet the Pioneers were able to strike back with quick buckets and win the game 57-38.
 
Utica (2-6, 0-1 Empire 8) will head to clash with SUNY Morrisville on Saturday, December 16 at noon.