Women's Basketball Earns First Conference Win of the Season Over Utica

Elmira, NY - In tonight's Empire 8 double-header the women's basketball team started off the night by earning their first conference win of the season over the Pioneers of Utica College. 

EC got off to a slow start in tonight's game.  Utica came out and started the game off with a three point basket from Mallory Davis '09.  The Pioneers would hold their lead for almost the entire first half.  However the Soaring Eagles did not trail Utica by more than 5 points the entire time.  Marcia Coakley '09 who was 5-12 from the floor and 8-10 from the line, tied the game at 16 and then gave EC the first lead of the game with two made free throws.  Kourtney Troutman '08 would make it a 2 point game when she went 1-1 in her free throws.  By the end of the first half EC would extend it's lead to 18 points (29-18).  Coakley and Troutman would lead the team in final four minutes scoring 12 points combined. 

The Soaring Eagles would continue to stretch their lead over Utica, however the Pioneers would post a come back closing the gap from 16 points to 10 points with only 2 minutes left in the game.  EC's tough defense however would not allow the Pioneers to make a final come back.  EC held the Pioneers to only 3 points in the final two minutes of the game.  The Purple and Gold walked off the court with their first Empire 8 conference win of the season with final score EC 71 Utica 58.

Troutman finished tonight's game with 20 points while Coakley recored 18 points.  Troutman led the team in 3 point baskets made shooting 4-9 from outside the arch.  Bridget Catanese '08 led the team in rebounds pulling down 9 boards (2 offensive 7 defensive). 

EC will now look to earn their second conference win of the season tomorrow afternoon when they take on Hartwick College.  Game time for tomorrow's women's basketball game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Speidel Gymnasium.

Box Score