ELMIRA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team beat Elmira College 73-64 on Saturday afternoon in a convincing Empire 8 victory.
 
McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) turned in her second career double-double as she poured in 14 points with 11 rebounds including going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) was phenomenal today as she scored 17 points on a terrific 8-for-9 shooting from the field and corralled five rebounds. 
 
Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) dropped 13 points with five rebounds and two assists. Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) scored 11 points with five rebounds and one assist while Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) had seven points and seven rebounds. 
 
Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) scored six points with four rebounds and seven assists. Rotando has now recorded at least three rebounds and five assists in five-straight games and her playmaking has been a key part of the team's offense.
 
Utica was terrific from the charity stripe shooting an incredible 21-for-23 as a team. The Pioneers were able to crash the glass effectively as they won the rebound battle 45-39 and brought in 15 offensive rebounds. 
 
Elmira came out firing and nailed three shots from deep to hold a quick 13-4 edge. Yet Utica would battle back as Hannah Stack (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) converted a pair of free throws and McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) hit a transition layup to cut the Soaring Eagles lead to 13-11. Elmira gained a 16-11 lead yet the Pioneer offense continued to produce and Utica held a 22-19 advantage after the first quarter.
 
To open the second frame Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) converted a jumper to give Utica a 24-19 lead yet Elmira used a 5-0 scoring run to tie the game at 24-24. The Pioneers opened a 33-24 edge courtesy of a 9-0 scoring run led by Haley Burchhardt's (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) five points during the stretch. The Soaring Eagles stormed back cutting the lead to just 35-32 but the Pioneers answered back to take a 42-33 lead into the half.
 
Utica kept its foot on the gas as DeMarco canned a three pointer to open the second half. Another transition layup by Simmons increased the Pioneer lead to 51-39 halfway through the frame. The teams continued to exchange buckets and a late three from Elmira cut the Utica lead to 56-50 heading into the final quarter of play.
 
To begin the fourth quarter Burchhardt and Geraci each recorded a pair of baskets to increase the Pioneer lead to 64-54 with just over five minutes remaining. Elmira cut the lead to 69-62 with under one minute to play yet Simmons converted all four of her free three attempts and Utica held on to win 73-64.
 
Utica (10-13, 5-11 Empire 8) will open its final homestand of the regular season beginning against Medaille University on Friday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m.