ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell to the Nazareth University Golden Flyers on the road by a score of 53-37 on Friday evening.
Leading the way for the Pioneers was McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) who netted a team high 12 points (4-13 FG, 1-7 3pt, 3-3 FT), followed by Vanessa Hall (Independence, NY/Whitesville Central) with 11 points )3-9 FG, 1-2 3pt, 4-4 FT). Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) managed eight points on the evening (2-9 FG, 4-6 FT), while Madison Marusic (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) rounded out the scoring with six points (2-10 FG, 2-8 3pt). Cornell paced the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers with a team high nine, followed by Hall with seven, and Simmons with five. Defensively, Hall and Simmons led the way with a pair of steals each, while Hall posted a team high three blocks.
Utica weathered an early Nazareth surge in the opening quarter, as the Pioneers were held scoreless through the first six minutes before settling in defensively. Despite the slow start, Utica forced contested looks in the paint and closed the period with momentum, getting on the board at the free-throw line and finishing the quarter strong behind baskets from Simmons and Hall to cut the deficit to 11–7.
The Pioneers continued to battle in the second quarter, leaning on defensive rebounds from Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) and activity from Simmons, Cornell, and Hall to slow Nazareth's transition game. Utica found points at the line and inside but was unable to string together multiple stops as Nazareth capitalized on second-chance opportunities, taking a 26–12 lead into the break.
Utica came out of halftime with renewed energy, opening the third quarter with a fast-break finish from Simmons before Hall knocked down a three and added another inside finish to spark an 8–0 run. The surge cut the margin to 31–20 and forced Nazareth to respond. Utica continued to generate quality looks and defensive stops, but the hosts answered late in the quarter to carry a 41–20 advantage into the final frame.
The Pioneers showed resilience in the fourth, again chipping away at the deficit behind back-to-back triples from Marusic and aggressive play in the paint from Simmons and Cornell. Utica trimmed the margin to 13 with under two minutes remaining before Nazareth closed out the game late, as the Pioneers continued to compete through the final horn in the 53–37 decision.
Utica (6-13, 2-8 Empire 8) returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, January 31 as the team takes on St. John Fisher. Tip off from Rochester, NY is set for 2pm.
