Women's Basketball | 1/9/2026 8:18:00 PM
HOUGHTON, NY – Crysta LaCrosse scored her 1,000th career point as the Houghton Highlanders got back on the winning track, dispatching the Utica Pioneers, 69-46 on Friday night.
LaCrosse, who needed 11 points coming into the game entered the final 10 minutes with only four points. After hitting a pair from short range, with just over two minutes remaining, she drained a three from the near elbow, putting her at exactly 1,000 career points. She is the 14th Highlanders women's basketball player to score 1,000 points at Houghton.
In the opening minutes the game looked like it would be a barn-burner. The Pioneers hit 4-of-6 from beyond the three-point line in the opening quarter, while the Highlanders hit 2-of-4, as the first 10 minutes ended knotted, 18-18.
Houghton took over the second, nailing 5-of-9 from beyond the arc to take a nine-point lead into the half, 39-30.
The Highlanders defense would only tighten the ropes from there, limiting the Pioneers to only 16 points on 21 percent shooting in the second half.
Houghton would continue to lengthen their lead, closing the final quarter with a 21-9 disparity.
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 69 | Utica – 46
Records: Houghton: 9-1 (1-1 Empire 8) |Utica: 4-7 (0-2 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center at Houghton University| Attendance: 125
NOTABLE STATS
>> In addition to her 11 points, LaCrosse also pulled down nine rebounds and dished up eight assists, passing Alicia Mucher for third place on the all-time Houghton assist leader board. She currently has 365 career assists, trailing second-place-holder Cori Beck (2016-20) by 15 assists.
>> Tabitha DeVries (11 points), Anna Dening (11 points) and Karina Crouse (10) all scored in double-digits for the Highlanders, while Emma Hoedepohl added eight points and seven rebounds.
>> After a torrid first quarter offensively, Utica shot only 9-of-41 (21 percent) from the floor and 1-of-10 (10 percent) from three-point range.
>> McKenzie Simmons logged a double-double for the Pioneers with 10 points and 10 boards, while Allegany County-native, Vanessa Hall, registered 11 points.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow afternoon for a matchup with the SUNY Poly Wildcats at 2:00 p.m.