UTICA, NY - The Pioneer Women's Basketball Team hit the hardwood on Monday night for their first Miga matchup since November 12th. Utica welcomed the SUNY Delhi Broncos along with a host of Utica University staff and faculty who were honored for their hard work at halftime of the game. The Pioneers put on a show for their valued guests, playing an up-tempo high-pressure brand of ball on the way to a 66-35 victory over the Broncos.
 
The Pioneers dominated many categories beyond scoring, seeing their success in these areas contribute to the majority of their eventual baskets. Utica scored an outrageous 26 points off of turnovers, forcing 26 turnovers in the game and gathering 12 steals as a team.
 
They made their living in the paint on Monday night, scoring 38 of their 66 points from up close. The Pioneers also gave themselves many chances to boost up the score, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds and receiving 12 second chance points because of their prowess on the offensive glass. Utica's 21 offensive rebounds nearly eclipsed the Broncos total rebounding tally of 25. The Orange and Blue out-rebounded Delhi by a total margin of 49-32 on the evening.
 
Last week's Empire 8 Player of the Week Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) ended as the game's leading scorer, picking up 19 points off a modest 60% field goal percentage. Hall notched her 19-point performance in only 18 minutes of gametime, racking up a point per minute.
 
McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) and Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) ended as the other double-digit scorers for the Pioneers, putting in 13 and 12 points respectively. They also each snagged five rebounds in the game. Simmons also managed to tie for the team-high in steals with three. Simmons' three-steal counterpart was coincidentally Emma Simmons (Unadilla, NY/Sidney Central), who also snared seven rebounds and dished out four assists in a very complete outing.
 
The Pioneers improved to 2-4 with the win and will now turn their sights to this weekend when they travel to Wesleyan where they'll take on the Cardinals in addition to Rivier University.
 
Game Summary
 
The Pioneers made their presence known early in the matchup, hammering the press right off of the opening tip and attempting to use their superior athleticism to throw the visiting Broncos off kilter. The hosts' full-court 2-2-1 was extremely effective during the opening stages of the Monday matchup, grabbing seven steals in the first seven minutes to take a 13-4 lead about midway through the first quarter. The Pioneers scored eight of their initial 13 points off turnovers, cruising out to a good lead without exposing their offensive gameplan due to the fast-break nature of their opening attacks.
 
The Delhi defense settled in after the Pioneers' beginning barrage. The Bronco defenders were able to get back and stop the fast break more often in the final three minutes of the first quarter. With Delhi's zone beginning to take shape and get set more often, they managed to stuff the Pioneers over the final three minutes, making it a 13-7 game as the first quarter buzzer sounded.
 
The Pioneers caused nine Delhi turnovers in the first 10 minutes of play but couldn't make the most of every opportunity as they shot 1-12 from deep in the opening frame.
 
Utica made the most of the short break, conjuring a winning game plan on offense as their focus shifted to the paint. The Pioneers put home three paint scores within a one-minute span, shooting out to a 19-9 lead mere moments into the second quarter. The Orange and Blue began to utilize quick and precise passing to spread the Delhi zone and open up space in the middle. They also attacked the zone well on every shot, rushing by numerous Delhi boxout attempts to secure 12 offensive rebounds in the first 15 minutes of the matchup.
 
A steady stream of steals towards the end of the half saw the Pioneers embark on an 11-0 run to finish the half, taking a 34-13 lead into the half.
 
The Pioneer pressure didn't lessen as the second half got underway, with Utica continuing to employ aggressive defensive tactics. A pair of close-range baskets followed by a Simmons (McKenzie) long ball got the hosts out to a tepid start in the third quarter, increasing the lead to 26. Some patient passing continued the run, as Hall and Jaida Larsen (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) notched back-to-back layups. A Simmons (M) layup added onto a now 13-0 run that the Pioneers had over the beginning of the third quarter. The gap grew to 32 before Delhi broke the run via a jumper with just about six minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Utica slowed down a bit, looking to use some new sets and try out some different matchups before their trip to Wesleyan this weekend. The Pioneers didn't score again until near the one-minute mark of the third quarter, gathering three more points to make it 52-21 heading to the fourth.
 
The Pioneers put an emphasis on off-ball cutting and good ball movement in the fourth quarter, working the Delhi zone and finding the middle well during the final period as they scored another 14 points. A Brianelly Cruz (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou Freedom) three ball marked the Pioneers' final score of the contest as they captured a 66-35 win over Delhi.