UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team topped Keuka College 76-44 to earn a crucial Empire 8 victory on Monday night.
 
Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) poured in a career-high 18 points with three rebounds, five assists, and one steal and was lights out going 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) scored 13 points with eight boards, two blocks, and two steals while Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) had 12 points and nine boards with three assists.
 
Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) dropped 11 points with two rebounds and two assists with Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) hauling in nine boards and five points. Utica shot 9-for-17 from beyond the arc and that deep range shooting played a crucial role in the team's win.
 
Sage jumped out to a quick 5-0 start, yet Utica stormed right back with Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) nailing back-to-back triples to put the team up 12-7 at the 3:58 mark. The lights out shooting continued as Rotando canned a pair of triples to aid the Pioneers in holding a 20-10 edge after one quarter of play.
 
Utica kept the momentum rolling with a six-point scoring run to begin the second frame to put the team up 26-10. Hall and Rotando each hit another three-pointer to increase the Pioneers lead to 34-11 at 5:11. Sage had a few buckets, yet the Pioneers continued firing, ending the frame on an eight-point scoring run to lead 44-14 at the half.
 
Utica's offense continued to be resilient with Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) and Rotando boasting strong quarters each hitting a three-pointer and a layup to give the Pioneers a 63-26 lead after three quarters of play. Lagase and Jordan Carmosino (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional) each enjoyed strong fourth quarters to guide Utica to a 76-44 Empire 8 victory.
 
Utica (8-15, 5-9 Empire 8) will remain home and host Alfred University on Friday, February 16 at 5:30 p.m.