UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team is set to return home for a weekend homestand. On Friday, February 6, the Pioneers will welcome the Alfred University Saxons to Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center with a tipoff slated for 5:30pm. On Saturday, February 7, the Pioneers will honor their seniors by hosting the Houghton University Highlanders, with a tip off set for 2pm from Miga Court. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for both weekend matchups can be found here, and live stats here. For Friday's matchup, pregame coverage will be provided, courtesy of UticaTV. 
 
Last Time Out: The team fell to the St. John Fisher Cardinals by a score of 69-58 on the road Saturday afternoon. Leading the way for the Pioneers was Emma Simmons (Unadilla, NY/Sidney Central) who delivered 15 points on the afternoon (5-10 FG, 3-5 3pt, 2-5 FT), followed by Natalie Cornell (Greenwood, NY/Jasper-Troupsburg) with 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 FT), and McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) with 10 points (3-18 FG, 4-4 FT). Cornell paced the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers with a team leading nine, followed by McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) with seven, and Madison LaDuke (Massena, NY/Massena Central) with six. Defensively, McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) led  the way with a team leading three steals, while Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) swiped one of her own.
 
Senior Saturday: Prior to Saturday's contest against Houghton, the program will honor its pair of seniors, Carly Atty (Tribes Hill, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) and McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) for their contributions to the program. 
 
Senior Spotlight: McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) enters the matchup as Utica's top perimeter scorer and one of the team's most relied-upon offensive options, averaging 12.6 points per game with 251 total points across 20 starts this season. Simmons leads the Pioneers in field goal attempts (253) and ranks second on the team in made three-pointers (15), averaging 1.6 threes per game. She is shooting 32.8 percent from the field, 23.7 percent from three, and 78.4 percent at the free-throw line, while also contributing 6.7 rebounds per game and handling a significant share of Utica's perimeter workload. Her ability to score at all three levels has made her the focal point of the Pioneers' outside attack throughout the season. Fellow senior Carly Atty (Tribes Hill, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) has served as a steady backcourt presence, averaging 5.4 points per game with 108 points in 20 games, while logging heavy minutes as a primary ball-handler. Atty is shooting 32.1 percent from the field and has added 36 assists, providing consistent offensive flow and defensive reliability. She has played a key role in Utica's guard rotation, helping manage tempo, initiate sets, and take on challenging defensive assignments. 
 
Freshman Standouts: Utica has also seen meaningful contributions from its freshman class, led by Madison Marusic (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer), Madison LaDuke (Massena, NY/Massena Central), and Jayla Bell (Lyons, NY/Lyons), who have steadily carved out roles as the season has progressed. Marusic has emerged as a key perimeter option, averaging 4.7 points per game across 20 contests while ranking among the team's top three-point shooters with 15 made threes. She posted a season-high 17 points against Keuka, showcasing her ability to stretch the floor and provide scoring punch off the guard rotation. In the frontcourt, LaDuke has supplied consistent rebounding, pulling down 72 total rebounds (3.6 per game) while appearing in all 20 games this season, giving Utica another reliable interior presence. Bell has added efficient scoring in limited minutes, averaging 2.9 points per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the field, including a perfect shooting performance from three earlier this year. Together, the freshman trio has provided valuable depth and production, complementing Utica's veteran core as the Pioneers continue conference play.
 
Scouting Alfred: Alfred boasts a 5-2 Empire 8 mark and 9-11 overall. The Saxons average 62.1 points in seven conference games, 29.1 rebounds per game. Jaidyn Chest, a key contributor to Alfred's offense, leads the Empire 8 at 16.2 points per game in conference play while pulling down 4.2 rebounds. Jaidyn Chest is among the top five in the conference in overall scoring, averaging 16 points per game, totalling 320 points this season. Chest leads the conference in three point field goal percentage at .293. Contributors like Jayda Felker, who averages 8.6 points per game with a .226 paint scoring percentage in conference play as well as 1.8 steals per game, and Natalee Collins, who has posted 7.5 points per game on .437 field goal shooting, and totalling 19 blocks this season, have fueled Alfred's defensive stand this season. Alfred and the Pioneers have already squared off once this season, with the Pioneers weathering an overtime loss to the Saxons on the road. In the prior meeting, Alfred kept it close despite Utica's 57-49 lead after three quarters, to force overtime and steal the win with late transition baskets and clutch threes in the extra session. 
 
A Look at Houghton: Houghton enters the matchup as one of the most efficient teams in the Empire 8, posting a 15–4 overall record and averaging 77.4 points per game, the top scoring mark in the conference. The Highlanders shoot 40.5 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from three, knocking down nearly 10 three-pointers per game, while pairing that offensive production with strong ball movement at 20.8 assists per contest. Houghton also thrives defensively, forcing 21.9 turnovers per game and averaging 11.9 steals, helping fuel a +21.7 scoring margin on the season. Individually, Houghton features a balanced scoring attack led by Tabitha DeVries, who averages 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 50.5 percent from the floor. Crysta LaCrosse adds 12.2 points per game and serves as the team's primary facilitator with 92 assists, while Olivia Simser provides a consistent perimeter threat at 9.5 points per game, connecting on 34 three-pointers this season. Multiple players average between 6–11 points per game, making Houghton difficult to key in on defensively. In conference play, the Highlanders have continued that trend, averaging 71.8 points per game while holding opponents to 55.9, forcing over 20 turnovers per game, and maintaining a +15.9 scoring margin. Their ability to score from multiple positions, pressure the ball defensively, and capitalize in transition makes Houghton one of the most complete opponents in the league. The Highlanders and the Pioneers have already squared off once this season, with the Highlanders taking the matchup by a score of 69-46. Utica jumped out early in the previous meeting behind strong perimeter shooting, and closed the opening quarter tied at 18. Houghton used second-chance points and three-point shooting to build separation after halftime, holding off Utica's interior push and closing out a 69–46 decision.
 
Up Next: The team travels west to take on SUNY Geneseo. Tip off on Friday, February 13 from Geneseo, NY is set for 5:30pm.