Score: Elmira College 67 – Houghton College 56
Records: Elmira (5-11, 2-5 Empire 8), Houghton (7-9, 1-6 Empire 8)
Location: Nielsen Center – Houghton, NY
 
Houghton, NY – The Elmira College women's basketball team wrapped up its four-game road swing through the Empire 8 Conference on a positive note, besting Houghton College 67-56 at the Nielsen Center on Tuesday night. The victory lifts Elmira to a 2-2 mark over the four-game stretch.
 
Trailing by two points at halftime, and by as much as 10 points during the third quarter, Elmira buckled down on the defensive end over the back stretch of the third and all of the fourth quarters to launch a furious rally.
 
Needing a spark, head coach Shannon Howley had the squad employ a full court press. The Highlanders were clearly rattled by the shift in strategy, while the Soaring Eagles executed their game plan to perfection, limiting the Highlanders to 3-of-19 shooting over the final 14 minutes of game action.
 
Elmira's excellent work defensively also served to help pick up its offense, as Houghton turnovers turned into easy buckets for the visitors. EC outscored the Highlanders 25-to-8 during the decisive fourth quarter, transforming a six-point deficit entering the final 10 minutes into an 11-point victory.
 
The Soaring Eagles opened the fourth quarter on a 14-2 run, which put the game firmly in Elmira's control. Lindsay Heaton '19 kick started the rally with a pair of layups on back-to-back possessions to close the deficit to just two points at 48-46 with 8:40 remaining.
 
Emily Green '18 did the heavy lifting from there. She scored 10 of her game-high 18 points over the ensuing 2:49, which included a pair of treys to bookend her scoring binge. By the end of the outburst, the Soaring Eagles led 58-50 with 5:51 left.
 
Elmira scored its final seven points from the line to close out the win. Danielle Cleary '18 and Jessica Brooks '16 each knocked down a pair of free throws, while Heaton netted the other three.
  
In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Shannon Howley on her team's defense in the second-half comeback victory...
"We just upped the pressure. We got a few steals and converted on the offensive end to start the fourth quarter and erased their lead pretty quick. Our defense was very good in that quarter."

Coach Howley on her players' composure in the fourth quarter despite trailing most of the second half?
"I think we are used to having to come from behind, so when we got a couple quick buckets, it upped the energy and they just fed off of each other."

Coach Howley on Green's performance...
"We need her to score consistently for us to win. The first thing she was able to do was stay on the floor. She's been getting into foul trouble and it has been taking her out of games. She allows us to spread the floor with her three-point shooting, and tonight, she was aggressive and we needed that in the offensive end."

Coach Howley on out-rebounding the Empire 8 Conference's top rebounding team, and limiting Maisie Pipher, the league's leader in boards...
"I think it was a concerted effort to get a body on people. We also made a lot of hustle plays and got the 50-50 balls we have not been able to when we are losing games. Everyone contributed and our guards really helped out on the boards."

Coach Howley on the importance of Tuesday's win over the Highlanders...
"I think (it was a must-win). We know after the poor performance at Hartwick that we really had to chase this win. We cannot afford to fall any farther back if we want to try to secure that fourth spot in the conference tournament."

Turning Point
Trailing by nine points with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Elmira began to employ a full court press in an effort to get back in the game. The plan worked to perfection, as the Highlanders would finish 3-of-19 from the field over the rest of the contest. EC also generated eight of its 14 forced turnovers during the second half, which sparked the Elmira offense with several buckets off of turnovers. Elmira outscored the Highlanders 25-to-8 over the final quarter to complete the comeback.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Houghton 47.2-percent (25-of-53) to 33.3-percent (19-of-57) in the contest.
• The advantage in the second half was even more stark, as Elmira went 15-of-26 (57.7-percent) from the field.
• Elmira went 5-of-13 (38.5-percent) from three-point range in the game. Houghton finished 4-of-15 (26.7-percent) from distance.
• The Highlanders narrowly edged Elmira from the charity stripe, going 14-of-18, while EC finished 12-of-17 from the line.
• Elmira dominated the glass, pulling down 43 rebounds compared to Houghton's 29.
• EC finished with 18 turnovers, while the Highlanders finished with 14.
• Lindsay Heaton '19 finished with a game-high five assists.
• Heaton and Green each finished with four steals apiece, tying a season-high single-game mark for the squad this year.
• Green finished with 18-points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, both season bests.
• Danielle Cleary '18 added 16 points, while Jessica Brooks '16 chipped in 12 points off the bench, a season-high for her.
• Meghan Loya '16 led all players with 11 rebounds.

News and Notes

• With the win, Elmira ups its record to 6-1 all-time against Houghton.
• Elmira has won the last six matchups against the Highlanders.
• Green poured in a season-high 18 points, besting her previous high of 16, which she set in a victory over Hilbert College on November 24^th.
• Green's seven made field goals were a season high, while she equaled a season best with three made three-pointers.
• Elmira did an excellent job controlling the glass against a Highlander team that has been strong in the rebounding department this season. EC's 43 rebounds were the most the team has pulled down in Empire 8 play this season, while Houghton's 29 boards were the second lowest output by an Elmira opponent this season.
• In particular, Elmira did an excellent job limiting the conference's leading rebounder Maisie Pipher. She had been averaging double-digit rebound per game, including over four offensive boards per game coming into the contest. She was held without a rebound during the first half, while she had just one through the first three quarters of action. Pipher would finish with just five in the game.
• Elmira's 47.2-percent shooting from the field was a season high for the team this season.
• Elmira's 10 steals also were a season high for the team.

 
Up Next
Elmira continues conference play on Thursday, January 21^st, when it welcomes Alfred University to Speidel Gymnasium for an 8:00 p.m. tip.