UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell in its season opener to the Union College Garnet Chargers at home by a score of 91-61 on Tuesday evening. 
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) who recorded 23 points (7-12 FG, 2-4 3PT, 7-10 FT), while bringing in two rebounds, dishing out one assist and tallying one block. McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) also put together a solid effort, netting 16 points (6-16 FG, 3-6 3PT, 1-2 FT), while hauling in a team high seven rebounds, dishing out two, assists and nabbing two steals. Carly Atty (Tribes Hill, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) was a playmaker, dishing out five assists, and hauling in six rebounds. 
 
The first half would see Utica fall behind early, getting itself into a nine point hole less than four minutes into the opening frame. Utica would fight back to cut the deficit to four after a layup from Hall turned and-one, a made free throw from Hall, and a jumper from inside the paint from Simmons. Union would be able to pull away once more, and would send Utica to the break with a 50-25 lead. 
 
Utica would be unable to get the offense going coming out of the halftime break, not recording a point until the first minute of the frame had elapsed with Simmons draining a three off a feed from Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg). Utica would continue to capitalize on offensive opportunities, but would be unable to find its footing for the remainder of the game.
 
Utica (0-1, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Friday as the team travels north to take on the SUNY Potsdam Bears in the Holiday Inn Express Cardinal Classic, hosted by Plattsburgh State. Tip off from Plattsburgh, NY is slated for 5:30pm.