ALFRED, NY – The visiting Utica College basketball team outscored host Alfred University 42-18 in the second half, sending the Pioneers to a 72-50 victory in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon.

AU held a slim 32-30 lead at the halftime break before Utica turned the tables on the Saxons. Utica went on a 24-6 run in the first 10 minute of the second half to take A 54-38 lead and was never threatened. With the win, the Pioneers improve to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in league play, while AU falls to 4-9 (1-4 E8).

Sophomore forward Amanda Off (South New Berlin, NY/Unadilla) led AU with a game-high 17 points and also chipped in with seven rebounds. Senior guard Harley Cleary (Rochester, NY/Mercy) had 10 points and freshman guard McKaylee Croll (Perry, NY/Perry) added eight points and three assists.

AU senior guard Emilea Harrison (Dansville, NY/Dansville) had four points, six assists and two steals and freshman forward Taylor Kelley (Andover, NY/Andover) had a team-high eight rebounds to go with a game-high five blocks.

Ashley Mayo led five Utica players in double figures with 15 points. Ashley Babb had 15 points, six rebounds and four steals and Samantha Stayer had 12 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.

AU is in action next on Friday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. at Nazareth