Women's Basketball | 1/3/2022 8:41:00 PM
UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's basketball team made history Monday night as it downed visiting Hamilton College 56-50 to improve to 9-0 on the season. This marks the first time ever that the Pioneers have won each of their first nine games to start a season.
The Pioneers held a 28-26 lead at halftime, but a 16-6 third quarter outburst by the Continentals put Utica on its heels. UC came out flying to start the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors 9-4 through the first 3:56. A clutch three-pointer by Petrina DeMarco with 3:42 remaining gave the lead back to Utica and another three by DeMarco with just 1:50 left put the game out of reach. When all was said and done, the Pioneers outscored Hamilton 22-8 in the final frame.
DeMarco finished with 12 points on the evening on 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc. Three of her four baskets came in the fourth quarter. Graduate student Brigid Johndrow led the squad with 13 points and six steals and she tied for the team-lead with four assists.
Senior Sydney Przygoda picked up her fifth double-double of the season as she finished with 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Przygoda also had five steals to her credit. With 11 points on the evening Przygoda, inched closer to the 1,000-point milestone for her career. She now needs just 13 points to become the 14th player in program history to record 1,000 points in her career.
Senior Cora Sawyer also totaled 10 points and added four assists and eight boards, including seven off the defensive glass.
The Pioneers look to carry their momentum into Empire 8 Conference play as they host Elmira College on Friday (5:30 p.m.) followed by a meeting with Keuka College on Saturday at 2 p.m. Both games will be played at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center.