UTICA, N.Y. (January 25, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team led for the entirety of a 71-60 Empire 8 Conference victory at Utica College on Saturday afternoon. Four Ducks scored in double-figures to help Stevens to its 11th win of the season and even its record at 4-4 in the Empire 8.

Freshman Erica Guketlov (Spotswood, N.J.) drained a three-pointer 1:17 into the first half to put the Ducks ahead, 3-0, and they would never relinquish the lead for the rest of the contest. Guketlov finished the outing with 10 points, five assists and three rebounds.

After a made free throw from Utica on the next possession cut the score to 3-1, the Pioneers could never get closer than a three-point difference from the 17-minute mark of the first half to the end of the game.

Stevens shot 45.5-percent from the field in the matchup on 30-for-66 shooting, while Utica was held to just 30.9-percent (17-for-55). For the second consecutive game, Stevens was on the wrong end at the foul line, as it was outshot 25 to nine, but the disparity did not prove to be a difference maker on Saturday.

Senior Avis Benjamin (Queens, N.Y.) paced all players with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting for the field to go along with four boards and two assists. Sophomore Kaitlyn Astel (Staten Island, N.Y.) also reached double-digits for the Ducks, as she added 11 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Astel went 5-for-13 overall and pulled down a pair of rebounds.

Sophomore Miranda Ripken (Fallston, Md.) was the fourth player to eclipse double-figures with 10 minutes and tied for the team lead with six rebounds to go along with three assists. Classmate Dylan Krause (Atlanta, Ga.) also snatched six boards and tallied six points as well.

Senior Lisa Tessitore (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) chipped in seven points (3-for-5), three steals and two rebounds in the win.

The Ducks remain on the road Monday for a non-conference game against in-state rival The College on New Jersey at 7 p.m. in Ewing, N.J. TCNJ is 11-6 overall but has dropped four of its previous five contests.

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