Utica Fends Off Late Alfred Rally To Earn Key Conference Win
Utica, N.Y. (1/20/2012) - Alfred University made a late charge, cutting the Pioneers lead to as few as four points with less than a minute to go, but senior point guard Katie McGee was able to net the Pioneers final ten points to help lift the Utica College women’s basketball team to a 70-62 victory in Empire 8 Conference play at home on Friday night. The Pioneers snapped an eight game slide and improved to 6-10 overall and they also picked up their first conference victory of the season.
McGee finished the evening with a game-high 23 points and she also added five assists and five rebounds. Senior forward Justine Karst posted an impressive all-around performance as she tallied 12 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four assists. Karst finished the evening shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to help lift the Pioneers.
Alfred freshman guard Harley Cleary scored a team-best 23 points, while sophomore Grace Williamson added 16 points and six rebounds for the visitors. The Saxons have now lost eight in a row as their record moved to 7-9 overall and 0-5 in the Empire 8.
After trailing 6-4 to open the contest, the Pioneers used a 19-2 run in a span of 3:59 to take a commanding 21-8 lead with 12 minutes left in the first half of play. Both squads had answers for each other for the remainder of the first half and UC was able to take a 12 point lead, 39-27, into the locker room at the half.
The Pioneers led by as many as 19 points, 59-40, at the ten minute marker of the second half until Alfred used a 15-2 run in a span of 5:50 to cut the UC lead to 60-55 with 4:10 left in regulation. That’s when McGee started to heat up, knocking down a 3-pointer on UC’s next possession to put the home squad back up by eight points. Cleary and McGee were the only two players to score in the final minute of the contest. Harley made a lay-up and three free throws, while McGee knocked down seven free throws to lift UC to the eight point victory.
Junior forward Meghan Fiore netted 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Pioneers, while Alyssa Filkins chipped in with eight points.
The Pioneers return to the hardwood on Saturday when they host Elmira College at 2 p.m.