Utica, N.Y. (1/8/2010) - Sophomore forward Meghan Fiore and senior forward Jessica Berry combined for 52 of the Pioneers 66 points as the Utica College women's basketball team battled from a first half deficit to defeat Alfred University, 66-56, Saturday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center. Utica has now won two straight to open up the second half of its season and evened its record back up at 6-6 on the year. More importantly, the Pioneers improved to 2-1 in the Empire 8 Conference. Alfred dropped its sixth straight contest and moved its record to 4-7 overall and 0-3 in the E8. In the first half of the contest the Saxon's Lyndsay Murphy netted two of her nine points and eclipsed the 1,000 point barrier for her career. Alfred shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from 3-point range in the first half to keep the Pioneers at bay. Junior guard Christina Jordan caught fire, shooting 6-off-8 from behind the arc, good for 20 points in the first 20 minutes of play. The visitors came out of the gates hot, knocking down three 3-pointers in the first 4:17 of play to take an eight point lead, 12-4, at the 15:43 mark of the first half. The Pioneers responded in the next 7:37 of play with a 10-2 run to knot the contest at 14-14 after a Jessica Berry lay-up with 8:06 to go in the first half. The Pioneers were unable to regain the first half lead and Jordan nailed two consecutive 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the half as the Saxons took a three point lead, 31-28, into the locker room. The first ten minutes of the second half was truly a back and forth battle - featuring 11 lead changes and three ties. The Pioneers continued to keep the contest close and eventually the Saxon's outside game cooled down, allowing Utica to make one final run. UC held the visitors to just ten points in the final 10:43 of play, scoring 21 points of their own to earn the ten point victory. UC's guard tandem of Katie McGee and Devon Croll combined for 14 points for UC. Croll also added 11 assists and five steals. Jordan was unable to convert a bucket in the second half but still managed to lead the Saxons with 20 points. Courtney Lincoln netted 14 points and added four assists. UC returns to the hardwood on Tuesday night as the Pioneers continue Empire 8 Conference play against visiting Ithaca College at 6 p.m. The Pioneers have played eight of their last nine games at the friendly confines of the Clark Athletic Center.