UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team is set to begin a busy three-game week starting by hosting St. John Fisher University on Tuesday, January 16 at 5:30 p.m. The team will then hit the road and face Elmira College on Friday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m. and conclude the week against Alfred University on Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend Tuesday's game can tune in for live video and/or stats here. Elmira will provide live video and/or stats here with Alfred providing live video and/or stats here.
 
Last Time Out: The team fell to Nazareth University 81-45 last Tuesday night in an Empire 8 matchup. Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) led the squad with 11 points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal. McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) played phenomenal, dropping eight points and grabbing eight rebounds including three offensive boards which gave the team plenty of second chance scoring opportunities. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) and Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) each filled out the stat sheet with Burchhardt scoring three points with two assists and Geraci scoring three points with five rebounds. Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) poured in seven points and tied Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) for the team lead with two steals. Halvarson also added two rebounds and three assists in the outing. It was a back-and-forth battle to begin the first quarter with the teams exchanging buckets until Nazareth grabbed an early 8-5 edge at the 6:45 mark. The Golden Flyers went on a scoring run to open a 16-5 advantage, yet Utica would respond well. A Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) jumper and Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) three-pointer put the Pioneers within striking distance, yet Nazareth closed out the frame with a 20-10 advantage. The Golden Flyers struck first to begin the second quarter, yet Godkin responded with a layup off a nice feed from Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) . Nazareth had another brief scoring run, yet a Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) triple cut the lead to single digits as the Pioneers trailed just 26-15 at the 7:43 mark. Utica started to get more buckets by forcing the ball inside as McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook), Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), and Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) all recorded layups in the frame, but Nazareth took a 39-22 edge into the half. Both teams played strong defense for the first few minutes of the frame, not allowing a bucket. Nazareth struck first with a 4-0 run, yet Hall nailed a jumper to stop the run. The Pioneers continued to work the ball inside effectively creating plenty of scoring opportunities. Halvarson followed suit and canned both of her free throws with Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) splashing a jumper during the quarter. The Golden Flyers led 60-28 going into the final quarter of play. Rotando kept her hot hand going into the fourth hitting a three-pointer to begin the frame. She continued to be the face of the offense as she knocked down a pair of free throws and was attacking the paint with force. Emma Simmons (Unadilla, NY/Sidney Central) and Halvarson each scored a layup with McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) scoring five points including a converted and-one at the end of the quarter, yet Nazareth took this conference matchup 81-45.
 
A Game for Brooks Miles: A Game for Brooks Miles: The Pioneers will host Houghton University at 2 p.m. on January 27 for its annual Brooks Miles Game. "A Game for Brooks Miles" was created after Utica College Alum Dr. Greg Rorick '98 and his wife Angela lost their son, Brooks, shortly after he was born in 2008 from heart complications. This year's proceeds will go towards Luka, who was born on March 23, 2023, and spent his first four months, 138 days, in the NICU. The family is asking for help to offset the growing hospital expenses and any new expenses that occur as they acclimate to Luka living at home. A direct link to the fundraiser can be found here.
 
Where We Stand: Utica is currently in sixth place in the Empire 8 yet can climb the standings quickly with playing only three conference games thus far. The Pioneers continue to be lethal from the charity stripe shooting at a 67.8 percent clip which is third in the conference. The team is also among the best in the Empire 8 in turnover margin as they have been able to take care of the rock offensively while playing stout defense leading to turnovers and quick buckets.
 
Consistency is Key: Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) continues to be the league's top scorer averaging a ridiculous 17.2 points per game and has scored double-digit points in all 12 of her collegiate appearances. Her intelligence in the low block helps her create separation between the defender and convert some tough baskets constantly. The freshman has eclipsed the 20 point mark four times this season and her .456 field goal percentage is seventh in the conference with her 85.7 free throw percentage ranking first. The Whitesville, NY native looks to continue to provide the team with an elite inside scorer while also stretching the floor with her three-point range shooting ability. 
 
Two Way Street: McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) has been a premier two-way player for Utica this season getting it done on both sides of the ball. The sophomore seemingly does it all for the squad averaging 7.8 points per game with her 2.3 assists per game being tied for ninth in the Empire 8. The Red Hook, NY native's 2.2 steals per game is tied for fifth in the conference and she has recorded one steal or more in eight of 12 games thus far including three or more in four outings with a season-high six against Union on November 13.
 
Array of Threats: The Pioneers boast a plethora of players who seemingly fill out the stat sheet for the unit in all aspects of the game. The trio of Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central), McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook), and Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) all average at least 6.4 points per game with at least 3.1 rebounds per game while each swiping at least 15 steals this season. Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan), Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East), Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes), Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane), and Kieara Kirvan (Ledyard, CT/Ledyard) are all valuable pieces that also have made impacts in various aspects of the game such as three-point shooting, rebounding, and other features. Lagase has provided a consistent rebounder and sets up the offense with ease with Geraci being a playmaker in the low post and mid-range. Halvarson and Kirvan have been pesky defenders and flashy playmakers with Rotando and Godkin providing steady scoring and Rotando's 14 steals ranking fifth on the squad.
 
Scouting Fisher: The Cardinals are off to a fine 13-2 record including a 10-game win streak which has them in first place in the Empire 8 standings. The team is undefeated with a 6-0 record in conference play and topped Houghton 65-49 in its last outing on Friday, January 12. The duo of Sidney Tomasso and Joleen Lusk are some of the best scorers in the Empire 8 with both averaging more than 15 points per game and more than 7.6 rebounds per game as well. Both are elite defenders with Tomasso amassing 35 steals which is second behind teammate Claire Kruszka's 43 which leads the conference. Lusk has 25 blocked shots this season which is fourth in the conference with Katie Moravec and Presleigh Brunner also providing consistent scoring and pesky defense with each averaging more than 8.3 points per game with at least 22 steals.
 
Looking at Elmira: The Soaring Eagles are 6-7 thus far and are 1-5 in Empire 8 play which has them tied for seventh in the conference. The team fell 61-50 in a tight contest to Hartwick College in its last appearance on Saturday, January 13. The duo of Laura Bogota and Nevaeh Winston lead the team each averaging at least 10.8 points per game with Bogota being among the conference's best in three-point shooting with 20 made three pointers this season. Alleney Klunk and D'Asia Jones are two more reliable scoring threats with Klunk stretching the floor canning 14 three-pointers made thus far. Winston is the team's top rebounder hauling in 7.9 per game while swiping 24 steals with 14 blocks this season.
 
Alfred Outlook: The Saxons are 5-9 thus far with a 1-5 conference record which is tied for seventh in the Empire 8. The team beat Russell Sage College 46-30 in its last outing on Saturday, January 13 and will face Villa Maria College and Keuka College before hosting Utica on Saturday, January 20. The trio of Leah Harkenrider, Grace Rittenhouse, and Felicia Stewart provide steady scoring with each pouring in more than 8.2 points per game while also providing 4.1 rebounds per game. The duo of Harkenrider and Rittenhouse are premier defenders with each recording at least 23 steals this season with Natalee Collins leading the squad with 11 blocks.

Up Next: The team will return home to clash with Hartwick College on Tuesday, January 23 at 5:30 p.m.