Alfred, Elmira, Fisher, Hartwick and Stevens Win

1/3/2014 10:44:19 PM

The 2014 portion of the season got underway tonight as teams opened conference play.


Elmira 64, Nazareth 55 (Box Score)
The Elmira College women's basketball team (5-2, 1-0 Empire 8) started 2014 in the win column as the Soaring Eagles traveled to Pittsford, NY and rallied for a nine point victory, 64-55, over Nazareth College. EC's win over the Golden Flyers marks their fourth win in a row and the women's first Empire 8 Conference win of the year. This is the first four-game winning streak and the first Empire 8 Conference opening win an Elmira women's basketball team has had since the 2007-08 season.

Elmira jumped out to an early 12-6 lead, but Nazareth quickly responded with a 15-0 run to take a 21-12 lead with just under six minutes remaining in the first half. The Soaring Eagles settled in and chipped away at the Golden Flyer lead, but EC trailed by five points at the intermission, 31-26.

For the second straight game, the Purple and Gold had a stellar second half as the women erased the five-point halftime deficit and took a 46-45 lead with 10:38 left to play. Nazareth regained a one-point advantage two minutes later, but a layup from Jessica Zoltowski sparked a mini 6-0 run that put EC ahead for good. The Soaring Eagles went 10 for 10 from the charity stripe down the stretch as the women sealed the 64-55 victory.  FULL STORY 


Hartwick 63, ithaca 60 (Box Score) 
Hartwick (7-2, 1-0 E8) overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to earn a gutsy 63-60 victory over nationally 18th ranked Ithaca on Friday night at Lambros Arena in the Empire 8 Conference opening game for both teams. The win is the first at home for the Hawks against the Bombers since 2004.

'Wick trailed 44-33 with 13:53 to play in the contest but tallied 15 of the next 18 points over the next eight minutes to grab a 48-47 advantage. The Hawks would lead the rest of the way to secure their seventh victory of the season and snap a three-game winless streak against the Ithaca (6-3, 0-1 E8).  FULL STORY  


Stevens 62, Utica 52 (Box Score)
The Stevens Institute of Technology notched its first victory of 2014 in the Empire 8 Conference opener against Utica College on Friday evening after a month away from competition. Stevens used a 20-6 run to start the second half to come away with the 62-52 home win.

After the Pioneers closed out the first half with a 32-31 lead over the Ducks, Stevens came out of the locker room and put the contest away over an 8:24 span in the second half with the 20-6 run. During the run, senior Avis Benjamin and sophomore Miranda Ripken combined for 11 points. Ripken netted six of her 10 points during the run and Benjamin notched five of her 11.

Utica was led by Mary Miceli who scored 15 points on 19 shots. The Pioneers also received a combined 34 rebounds from Bridget Greenwald (13), Samantha Stayer (11) and Kelsey Cowell (10). Stayer added 12 points for a double-double.  FULL STORY 


St. John Fisher 69, Houghton 54 (Box Score)
After nearly a month off, the St. John Fisher College women's basketball team returned to action Friday evening, as the Cardinals cruised to a 69-54 win against the Houghton College Highlanders at the Nielsen Center.
 
After holding a two point advantage at the half, the Cardinals took over in the second frame.  Fisher caught fire from the floor, scoring 11 unanswered points starting with a three pointer from Brooke Seavitt en route to a 20-2 run, which was capped by another three point field goal, this time from Portia Velasco.  Seven different Cardinals scored during the run, which stretched nearly six minutes of play.
 
The Cardinals would eventually hold a 22 point advantage before Houghton began to claw its way back into contention, cutting Fisher's lead to 13 points before the visiting Cardinals would regain control, cruising to a 69-54 win.  FULL STORY


Alfred 54, Brockport 53 (Box Score)
Emilea Harrison hit a 10-foot jumper as time expired to give Alfred a 54-53 victory over The College at Brockport Friday night. Brokport took a 53-52 lead with seven seconds remaining but Alfred moved quickly up the court for the game winning shot.