Utica Rebounds With Convincing Victory over SUNY IT
Utica, N.Y.
Utica, N.Y. (12/2/2010) – Senior forward Jessica Berry netted a season-high 31 points and nabbed 14 rebounds as the Utica College women’s basketball team cruised to a 75-53 victory over local rival SUNYIT in non conference play at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium Thursday night. The Pioneers gained the lead just over one minute into the contest and never looked back, shooting 56.6 percent from the floor, as they earned a 22 point victory over the Wildcats.
Utica (4-2) rebounded from an eight point loss to Hamilton College on Tuesday night, while SUNYIT (2-1) dropped its first contest of the season. Sophomore forward Meghan Fiore chipped in with a season-high 19 points, while senior guard Devon Croll added eight points and five rebounds.
Utica used a 31-7 run over the course of 12:45 in the first half to jump out to a 20 point lead, 31-9, with just over six minutes to go before the half. The Utica defense held the visitors to just 19 points on 28.6 percent shooting from the floor in the first half to mount a 26 point lead at the half.
The Pioneers went on to extend their lead to as many 34 points, 71-37, midway through the second half to secure the victory. The visitors mounted a small comeback, outscoring Utica 12-4 over the course of the final nine minutes, to trim the lead to 22 points as the final buzzer sounded.
Sophomore guard Lyndsey Brognano, from nearby Rome, N.Y., scored a team-high 16 points, including three 3-pointers, while senior center Tamara Williams, also from Rome, N.Y., added 12 points and eight rebounds for SUNYIT.
Junior guard Katie McGee and senior guard Stephanie Nara combined for eight points, while junior forward Justine Karst added a season-high seven points off the bench.
Berry, who is the reigning Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year, recorded her second straight double-double and increased her season averages to 24.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per contest. Utica has now won the last five meetings against the Wildcats by an average of 22.4 points dating back to 2008.