UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team continues conference play this week. The team will take on Empire 8 Conference newcomer SUNY Geneseo on Tuesday, January 14 at 5:30pm in Geneseo, NY. The team then returns home to take on the Houghton University Highlanders on Friday, January 17 at 5:30pm before taking on the Alfred University Saxons on Saturday, January 18 at 4pm. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for Tuesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats can be found here. Live video for both weekend games can be found here, and live stats can be found here. 
 
Last Time Out: The Utica University women's basketball team completed its road trip as the team took on the St. John Fisher Cardinals in an Empire 8 Conference matchup. The Pioneers fell to the Cardinals by a score of 75-57. Leading the way for the Pioneers was McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook), who recorded 15 points (5-11 FG, 2-4 3PT, 3-3 FT) and nine rebounds, while Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) added 14 points (6-18 FG, 2-2 FT) and eight boards. Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) contributed 13 points (5-11 FG, 2-6 3PT, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, two steals, and three assists. Carly Atty (Tribes Hill, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) and Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) each chipped in six rebounds, with Atty blocking one shot and Lagase scoring six points.
 
Player of the Week: Freshman Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) has been named Empire 8 Rookie of the Week this week. Cornell put together a strong outing for the Pioneers in her first three consecutive starts. The freshman center tallied 28 points in three games for an average of 9.3 points per game. Cornell was perfect in all of her attempts from the free throw line going 4-4. As a rebounder, Cornell totaled 22 rebounds, for an average of 7.3 boards per game. She also dished out three assists, totaled three blocks, and swiped one steal. Against Brockport, Cornell netted eight points on 33.3 percent shooting from the floor and was 2-2 from the free throw line. Cornell totaled 10 rebounds, five offensive and five defensive. She also dished out one assist, and added a block to her stat sheet as well. Against Nazareth, Cornell netted six points, dished out one assist and tallied a block. Against St. John Fisher, Cornell netted a career-high 14 points on 33.3 percent shooting from the floor. Cornell was also 2-2 from the free throw line. As a rebounder, Cornell nabbed eight boards, five offensive and three defensive. Cornell also added one assist, one block, and one steal to her stat line against Fisher.
 
Kenz' You Dig It: Mc Kenzie Simmons put together a great outing for the Pioneers last week. The junior guard netted herself 39 total points on 33.3 percent shooting from the floor. As a rebounder, Simmons recorded 27 total rebounds in three games, as well as five assists, one block, and one steal. Against Brockport, Simmons recorded 14 points after going 5-16 from the floor. As a rebounder, Simmons nabbed eight boards, two offensive and six defensive. Simmons also dished out three assists. Against Nazareth, Simmons notched 10 points and was 6-8 from the free throw line. Simmons nabbed 10 total rebounds, two offensive and eight defensive. Simmons also recorded a steal. Against st. John Fisher Simmons recorded 15 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the floor, and was a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line. Simmons nabbed herself nine boards, three offensive and six defensive. Simmons also dished out two assists, and tallied a block. 
 
Scouting Geneseo: Empire 8 Conference newcomer SUNY Geneseo has put forth an 8-4 record on the season so far, and are 3-0 in conference play. Kiley Snow has been the team's leading scorer with 137 total points for an average of 11.4 points per game. Show has been lethal for the Knights this season, shooting 47.6 percent from the floor on the season, and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc. Grace Galgano and Kristin Suydam are not far behind Snow, each with 119 total points for an average of 9.9 points per game. Galgano has been the team's leading rebounder, with 84 total rebounds this season for an average of seven rebounds per game. Mackenzie Reigle has been able to get the offense going for the Knights, recording 74 total assists for an average of just over six assists per game. Reigle also holds the team lead in steals, with 22 total steals this season. Suydam has been a stout defender for the Knights, recording 13 total blocked shots this season. The Pioneers have not squared off against the Knights since 2003, when a tightly contested matchup ended in a 65-63 score in favor of the Knights. 
 
A Look At Houghton: The Houghton University Highlanders have posted an 11-1 record on the season so far, and are 2-1 in conference play. Kayla Canacho has been the team's leading scorer with 211 total points for an average of 17.6 points per game. Camacho leads the team in scoring, shooting 45.7 percent from the floor so far this season. She has also been the team's biggest threat from outside, shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc. Camacho has been everywhere for the Highlanders, also holding the top spot in rebounding with 87 total rebounds for an average of 7.3 rebounds per game. Camacho has also swiped 24 total steals this season. Chrysta LaCrosse has been able to get the Highlanders offense, holding the top team spot in assists with 61. Tricia Carmer has been a stout defender for the Highlanders with 13 total blocked shots this season. All time, the Pioneers are 6-5 at home against the Highlanders, with Houghton taking last season's matchup by a score of 51-40. 
 
Breaking Down Alfred: The Alfred University Saxons have posted an 8-5 record on the season and are 2-2 in conference play. Jaidyn Chest and Grace Rittenhouse have been the leading scorers for the Saxons this season, both averaging over 13.5 points per game. Rittenhouse currently leads the team in field goal percentage, shooting 37.8 percent from the floor. Rittenhouse also currently holds the team lead in steals with 27. Chest has been the team's leading threat from outside, averaging two made three-point field goals per game. Chest has also been able to get the Saxon offense going, holding the team lead in assists with 44. Natalee Collins has been the team's leading rebounder with 90 total rebounds for an average of 6.9 rebounds per game. Collins has also been a stout defender for the Saxons with 10 total blocked shots this season. Last season, the Pioneers took the matchup with the Saxons by a score of 82-63. 

Up Next: The team continues conference play by hosting Hartwick College on Friday, January 24. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 5:30pm.