UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team is set for a pair of non-conference matchups this week. The team will travel to take on the RPI Engineers on Monday, December 1 with a tip off set for 5pm from Troy, NY. The team will then return home to close out the 2025 slate by taking on the SUNY Canton Kangaroos on Wednesday, December 3. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 5pm.
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for Monday's matchup can be found here, and live stats, here. Live video for Wednesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here.
Last Time Out: The team took its pre-Thanksgiving matchup with the Norwich University Cadets by a score of 75-67 on Tuesday afternoon. Three Pioneers finished in double scoring figures in Vanessa Hall (Independence, NY/Whitesville Central) who lead the way with 22 points (9-14 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-2 FT), followed by Madison Marusic (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) with 12 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-1 FT), and McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) with 10 points (1-10 FG, 8-8 FT). Hall led the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers with a team leading nine, followed by Carly Atty (Tribes Hill, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) and Simmons with six a piece. Atty was also able to dish out a team leading four assists, while the trio of Simmons, Marusic, and Madison LaDuke (Massena, NY/Massena Central) each dished out a pair. Defensively, Simmons led the way with four steals, while LaDuke, Hall, Jayla Bell (Lyons, NY/Lyons), and Destiny Herring (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) each nabbed one. Herring and Hall also managed to add a block to their afternoons.
Scouting RPI: The RPI Engineers have posted a 4-2 record to begin the season, and are 2-1 on the road. The Engineers have been able to keep a close game, outscoring opponents by a three point margin on the season. Leading the scoring efforts for the Engineers has been Sophie Costello, who has managed to average 10.7 points per game off the bench. Emilia Rojik is the Engineers leading starter, averaging 8.7 points per game. Niamh Gendron has been the team's best shooter, appearing in five games off the bench, shooting .524 from the floor and .538 from three point range. Callie Flynn and Rojik lead the rebounding efforts for the Engineers, with Flynn averaging nine rebounds per game, while Rojik is averaging 4.3. Defensively, Tyler Hormazabal leads the Engineers with a team high 17 steals, while Flynn leads the team with 11 total blocks.
A Look at Canton: The SUNY Canton Kangaroos have managed a perfect 5-0 record to start the season, posting a 23.4 point scoring margin against opponents. Leading the Kangaroo offense is Sierra Pabo and Kat McRobbie-Taru, with Pabo averaging a team leading 17.6 points per game, while MvRobbie-Taru has posted 15.8 points per game. Grace Villnave has been the team's leading shooter from the floor, shooting over .600 through five games off the bench. From three point range, Chelsie Tyler leads the Roos with a .444 shooting percentage off the bench. Leading the rebounding efforts for the Roos has been Kate Grainger and McRobbie-Taru. Grainger has managed to average 11.5 rebounds per game, while McRobbie-Taru has put together a team second best 8.4 rebounds per game. Defensively, Hope Aniceto and Pabo lead the Roos in steals with Aniceto nabbing 12 and Pabo 11. McRobbie-Taru has also helped lead the Kangaroos defensively with a team leading nine blocks.
Up Next: The team will return to action in 2026, taking on the Williams Smith Herons in the team's final non-conference matchup. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center on Saturday, January 3 is set for 1pm.
