UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team is set to begin a two-game week traveling to face Nazareth University on Tuesday, January 9 at 5:30 p.m. The team will then host Keuka College on Saturday, January 13 at 2 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Nazareth will provide live video and/or stats here. Those unable to attend Saturday's home game can tune in for live video and/or stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team defeated Russell Sage College 55-39 to collect its first Empire 8 victory of the season last Friday. The Pioneers played physical basketball out rebounding Sage 54 to 45 and forced 20 Gator turnovers leading to 14 points off turnovers. Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) shined for the Pioneers tying her career-high with an immaculate 27 points while adding four rebounds, three steals, one block, and one assist. The freshman shot a strong 12-for-20 from the field while knocking down three triples. McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) scored 10 points with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal while Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) was a big part of the victory adding nine points and six rebounds. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) scored five points and corralled four rebounds with Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) and Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) each leading the team with seven boards. Rotando was also active defensively, swiping three steals to tie the team lead with Hall. Lagase got the party started for the Pioneers nailing two triples to give the team an early 6-2 lead about three minutes into the contest. Utica's offense was rolling with a strong 8-0 run to put the team ahead 14-4 at the 4:21 mark of the first quarter. Two straight Hall layups at the end of the frame gave Utica a 18-9 edge after one quarter of play. Sage found its offensive rhythm in the second frame with a quick 7-2 run to cut the lead to just 21-16 at the 6:35 mark. Utica responded by cashing a McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) three pointer and Godkin layup. The Gators responded again, closing the quarter on a six point run to trail 28-24 at the half. Utica came out firing with a five point run to push its lead to 33-24 yet the Gators trimmed the lead to just five with two quick buckets. The Pioneers started to create opportunities for Hall in the paint and she was able to convert some tough shots and help the team take a 46-35 advantage into the final quarter of play. Hall continued to cook in the paint with another bucket to open the final frame. Both teams played a strong defensive quarter with Utica allowing just an incredible four points in the fourth. McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) had a strong quarter with four points and Jordan Carmosino (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional) nailed two late free throws to give Utica a 55-39 Empire 8 win.
 
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.
 
Like a Vet: Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) has earned her third Empire 8 Rookie of the Week Award after turning in another fantastic week and making her impact felt on both sides of the ball. The freshman accumulated 41 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one block and three steals over the team's games against SUNY Cortland and Russell Sage College. Her best outing came against Sage in which she tied a career-high 27 points while adding four rebounds, three steals, one block, and one assist. The freshman shot a strong 12-for-20 from the field while knocking down three triples. Hall's 17.7 points per game leads the conference by over 1.5 points and she continues to be one of the premier scorers in the Empire 8 and the face of the Utica attack.
 
Where We Stand: Utica is currently fourth in the Empire 8 standings with a 1-1 conference record thus far. The Pioneers continue to be great at the charity stripe ranking third in the Empire 8 knocking them down at nearly a 68 percent clip. Utica is also effective on the defensive end corralling nearly 28 rebounds per game on that side of the court. The team has one of the best turnover margins in the conference and has done well at taking care of the ball while forcing plenty of turnovers on the defensive end. Utica's 134 steals and 12.18 steals per game both rank third in the conference and have been a large reason for the team's success.
 
Heating Up: The team has been playing strong basketball on both sides of the ball at the right time heading into conference play. Utica has won three of its last four games including picking up two Empire 8 victories while scoring over 55 points in three of the four outings. The Pioneers look to keep the momentum rolling into conference play.
 
Scouting Naz: The Golden Flyers are off to a fine start boasting a 12-1 record including being tied at the top of the conference standings at 4-0 thus far. The team topped Alfred University in its last game 74-61 on Saturday, January 6 to collect another conference victory. Nazareth's offense is very well balanced with four players averaging double-digit scoring and leading the squad in multiple categories. Molly Benetti leads the squad averaging 13.8 points per game with Katie MacLachlan not far behind at 13.6. Olivia Dobrovosky and Kiara Anglin are two more scoring options, each averaging more than 10.5 points per game. The team shines defensively with Benetti's 28 blocks being six more than anyone else in the conference with MacLachlan, Dobrovosky, and Anglin each ranking top-seven in the conference with more than 23 steals. 
 
Looking at Keuka: The Wolves are 1-10 this season and 0-3 in Empire 8 play thus far. The team fell to Russell Sage College 62-34 in its last outing on Saturday, January 6. The team will clash with St. John Fisher University on Tuesday, January 9 before facing Utica on Saturday, January 13. The duo of Mary Cotter and Sydney Brown lead the way each averaging more than 8.8 points per game while also being the team's top threats from beyond the arc each canning at least 18 three-pointers made and boasting at least a .270 three point percentage. Caiden Crego and Katie Deatherage are the top two on ball defenders each accumulating more than 11 steals this season. Ellen Lavonas is the team's top shot blocker with 10 rejections this season.

Up Next: The team will host (RV) St. John Fisher University on Tuesday, January 16 at 5:30 p.m.