Women's Basketball | 2/21/2023 7:49:24 PM
No. 3 Russell Sage College and No. 5 Elmira College advanced to the semifinals of the 2022-23 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Tournament Championship after earning first round victories on Tuesday, February 21. Russell Sage defeated No. 6 Alfred, 71-46, while Elmira out-lasted No. 4 Houghton, 65-58 on the road.
Russell Sage and Elmira will head to St. John Fisher for the semifinal action on Friday. Elmira will take on top-seed St. John Fisher from Manning-Napier Varsity Gym in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Friday. No. 2 seed Nazareth College will take on Russell Sage in the second semifinal at 7:30 p.m. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2023 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship, which begins March 3-4.
St. John Fisher won both previous meetings versus Elmira earlier this season, including a 74-51 win in the most recent meeting on Jan. 27. arlier this season, 78-73 at home on Jan. 29 and 64-42 at Nazareth on Feb. 8. Nazareth and Russell Sage split the season series with each team winning on its home court. Nazareth earned an 81-55 win on Jan. 20, while Russell Sage pulled out a 66-61 win in the regular season final on Feb. 18.
NO. 3 RUSSELL SAGE, 71 NO. 6 ALFRED 46
Russell Sage College out-scored visiting Alfdred 19-5 in the second quarter to break open a close game and earn a 71-46 win in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament. The Gators (17-9) shot 48.1 percent from the field.
Forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), a graduate student, registered a double-double of 30 points, a collegiate career-high, on 13-of-18 shooting and 10 rebounds. The transfer, now with 13 double-doubles, recorded 20 of her points in the first half to help RSC, seeded third, hold a 34-19 lead at the break. The 30 points tied for sixth among Gators for most points in a single-game.
Sophomore guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac), the reigning E8 Rookie of the Year, tossed in 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting and eight rebounds, while senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) added 11 points. Each Gator that scored in twin figures dished out four assists apiece.
Junior guard Leah Harkenrider topped Alfred (15-10), the six seed, with 15 points.
NO. 5 ELMIRA 65, NO. 4 HOUGHTON 58
Elmira won its first E8 Tournament game since 2007, defeating the hosts from Houghton College on Tuesday, 65-58. In the win, the Soaring Eagles (15-10) turned the ball over a season-low eight times when it mattered most, while
Desiree Roy '25 posted a career game with 18 points and 17 rebounds. Roy, who was shutdown by Houghton in the first half of its last meeting on February 7, was one rebound shy of a double-double in the first half this evening. Houghton fell to 17-9 with the loss.
Roy was one of three Soaring Eagles to finish the game in double-figures, as
Nevaeh Winston '25 and
Laura Bogota '25 finished with 13 and 12, respectively.
After Bogota scored the games' opening bucket, the Soaring Eagles would hold the lead for nearly the remainder of the game except for once in the third quarter when the Highlanders took a one-point lead.
Elmira forced the Highlanders into 12 turnovers, which resulted in a 12-3 advantage in points off turnovers. Additionally, the Soaring Eagles matched its two-game total from its regular season matchups against the Highlanders (3), with Elmira focusing much of its offensive attack in the paint. The Highlanders, who were just 7-of-27 from long range (25.9%), were kept in the game by Crysta Lacrosse who made four of the teams' seven shots.
Houghton took its first lead of the contest with 4:05 remaining in the third following a made free throw to make the score 40-39. The Soaring Eagles would finish the frame on a 12-4 run, which would prove to be the difference with the visitors carrying a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter.
2022-23 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Championship Schedule
Tuesday, February 21 – First Round (at Higher Seed)
No. 3 Russell Sage defeated No. 6 Alfred, 71-46 – BOX SCORE
No. 5 Elmira defeated No. 4 Houghton, 65-58 – BOX SCORE
Friday, February 24 – Semifinals (at St. John Fisher)
No. 5 Elmira at No. 1 St. John Fisher – 5:30 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 3 Russell Sage vs. No. 2 Nazareth - 7:30 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Saturday, February 25 - Championship Final (at St. John Fisher)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2 - 3 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
YouTube
EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA
YouTube –
Facebook –
Twitter –
Instagram