UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team captured a conference win this evening as the team took on the Hartwick College Hawks. The Pioneers claimed victory by a score of 63-47. 
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) with 25 points, a team high seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) also finished in double figures with 16 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) was a fantastic defender with seven rebounds and a team high four steals. Emma Simmons (Unadilla, NY/Sidney Central), Hayleigh Lagase (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan), and Kate Mahoney (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) each recorded a steal in the contest. 
 
The opening frame would see a pair of free throws from Mahoney put the Pioneers on the board first with just under a minute gone in the frame. Both teams would struggle to find the momentum early, with just about half of the opening frame remaining when the next basket would be scored. From there, baskets from Simmons and a made free throw by Godkin would allow the Pioneers to outscore the Hawks in the remainder of the frame, giving Utica the early lead at 11-8 heading into the second stanza. 
 
Hartwick would be the ones to open the scoring early in the second quarter, with a made free throw and a layup to knot the game at 11 with less than a minute gone in the second stanza. The Pioneers would go on to outscore the Hawks 17-9 for the remainder of the frame, courtesy of seven points from Hall, three from Simmons and Godkin, and two each from Mahoney and Emma Simmons (Unadilla, NY/Sidney Central) to give Utica the edge going into the halftime break 28-20. 
 
Coming out of the break, both teams would once again struggle to find their footing, with over two minutes elapsing before a basket would be made by the Hawks to cut the Pioneer's lead to six. Utica would be able to hold onto the six point lead for the next two minutes, as every Hawk basket would be avenged by the Pioneers, holding strong at 35-29 with half of the frame remaining. Utica would then be able to grow the lead to 10 after a three possession run to push the score of 39-29. The Pioneers would close out the third quarter with the lead at 44-32. 
 
The final frame would see Utica break the ice early, courtesy of Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg), 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. From there, both teams would once again go 7-7 to the halfway mark in the quarter at 51-39. Over the next three and a half minutes, the Pioneers would outscore the Hawks 7-4 to grow the lead back to 12 with two minutes remaining. Baskets from Simmons, Godkin, and Hall would be the icing on the cake in the final two minutes for the Pioneers, giving them the win by a score of 63-47. 
 
Utica (3-13, 1-6 Empire 8) travels to Troy, NY to take on the Russell Sage College Gators on Saturday, January 25. Tip off from Troy, NY is set for 2pm.