UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell in its final non-conference matchup against the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons on Thursday afternoon by a score of 73-48. 
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) with 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT) and seven rebounds. Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) was a playmaker on offense, recording three assists. McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) was not far behind with 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-4 FT) and was a force to be reckoned with on defense, swiping herself three steals. Simmons, Lagase, and Kelsey McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) each recorded one block. 
 
The Pioneers would get out to a two possession lead early, with Simmons getting Utica on the board less than three seconds into the contest. Cortland would be unable to get on the board in the first two minutes of the opening frame. Utica would be able to maintain its lead throughout the entirety of the first quarter, heading into the second frame close knit at 18-17. 
 
A slow start for the Pioneers to open the second stanza would see Utica unable to find a bucket for the first two minutes of the frame until Cornell would find the basket with almost three minutes gone. Both teams would vie for possession, but it would be the Red Dragons that would find momentum on a 16-9 run that would give Cortland the lead going into the halftime break, 43-27. 
 
Coming out of the break, the Pioneers would be unable to swing the momentum back into their favor, with six minutes elapsing in the third frame before Utica would get its first points of the second half courtesy of a pair of free throws from Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes). At the end of 30 minutes, the Pioneers would trail 60-34. 
 
The final frame would see a more evenly matched bout, with the Red Dragons only outscoring the Pioneers by one in the frame, 14-13. Simmons would strike first for Utica, dropping a three from outside, followed by a pair of free throws from Lagase. The teams would continue to trade blows, but would eventually end with Cortland taking the matchup by a score of 73-48. 
 
Utica (2-7, 0-0 Empire 8) sets its sights on Empire 8 Conference play beginning on Tuesday, January 7 as the team hosts conference newcomer SUNY Brockport. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 5:30pm.