Utica, NY (2/21/14) – The Utica College women's basketball team led for the majority of the contest on its way to a 52-41 victory over visiting Nazareth College in Empire 8 Conference action at the Clark Athletic Center on Friday night. UC's Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) netted 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to secure her 11th double-double of the season. Greenwald now averages 10.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game this season.

The Pioneers (7-17, 2-12 Empire 8) have now won two of their last three games headed into their final contest of the season on Saturday at home against Houghton College (5 p.m.). UC also avenged an early season one point loss, 54-53, at the hands of Nazareth.  The Golden Flyers dropped to 9-16 overall and 3-11 in conference play.

Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) also chipped in with 15 points, while Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) added 11 points and five rebounds for the Pioneers.

Utica used a 20-7 run in a span of 12:12 in the first half to take a ten point lead, 20-10, with 6:45 to go in the first half of play.  Greenwald led the push with eight points, while the UC defense held the Golden Flyers to just 2-of-16 shooting from the floor in the stretch. 

An 8-0 run early in the second half extended Utica's lead to 11 points, 32-21, with 13:42 remaining. Naz answered with a 15-10 run in the next 8:20 of action to cut their deficit to six points, 42-36, with 5:22 remaining.  The Pioneers punched right back to secure the victory with a 9-0 run in a span of 4:43 to take a 51-36 lead with just 39 seconds left.

Maria Allocco led Naz with 13 points off the bench and she also hauled in nine rebounds. 

Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) and freshman Calypso Carty (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) also combined for seven points, nine rebounds and four steals for Utica.