Score: Elmira College 82 – Gallaudet University 59
Records: Elmira (1-4), Gallaudet (0-2)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's basketball team earned its first win of the 2016-17 season with an 82-59 defeat of Gallaudet University in the Soaring Eagles' home opener at Speidel Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.

As a team, EC used a balanced offense and solid defense to grab the win. The Purple and Gold shot a season-best 31-for-70 (44.3-percent) from the floor. On the defensive side of the court, the Soaring Eagles held the Bison to only shooting 27-for-78 (34.6-percent), by far a season-low for an Elmira opponent.        

The Purple and Gold were paced by Danielle Cleary '18 and Rachel Vespucci '19. Cleary scored 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists. Vespucci recorded her second-straight double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Not to be left out, guard Emily Green '18 scored 13 points to round out the Elmira's double-digit scorers.

The two programs played tight through the first quarter, with the period ending tied 13-all. The Purple and Gold started to grow a lead in the second, hitting three straight buckets to start the quarter to take a 19-13 lead. Freshman Lauren Franklin '20  extended the lead to 28-17 with a two-point jumper at the 4:48 mark of the quarter, Elmira's biggest lead of the half. However, Gallaudet would not go down easy, as Lawjen Ashmore hit a jumper with one second left in the quarter to cut the deficit to seven points, 34-27.

EC came out of the halftime break still playing solid basketball, defeating the Bison 21-18 in the third and extending its lead to 55-45 after 30 minutes of play.

Elmira really started to pour it on in the fourth. Cleary led Elmira in the final quarter, when she scored 10 straight points in a two-minute span to grow the Soaring Eagles' lead to 68-50. Green converted an unconventional three-point play less than a minute later to give the Purple and Gold a 71-50 lead and they never looked back, as the lead did not dip below 20 for the rest of the game.

Turing Point
The Soaring Eagles and Gallaudet played pretty close basketball for the first 30 minutes of action, with Elmira owning the 55-45 lead after three. The Soaring Eagles started to pull away in the fourth, as it became apparent that the Bison had no answer for Cleary. Cleary scored 16 of her 26 points in the second half to go along with all eight of her rebounds. EC used Cleary's 10 straight points in the fourth to take a commanding lead, one that they would not give up.

In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Shannon Howley on the victory over Gallaudet...
"I Thought we did a good job settling the tempo. We got out and ran and in the second half and we were able to go inside out with Rachel Vespucci."

Coach Howley on Danielle Cleary and Rachel Vespucci's effectiveness...
" When we can go inside-out and get scoring from Rachel it opens up some things for Danielle and Emily Green on the outside."

Coach Howley on taking today's momentum into Tuesday's home contest...
"It was nice to be home. We started with four games on the road and to be able to be in our home gym in front of friends and family helped. I think we just need to build on today and keep getting better every day."

Inside the Box

• Elmira finished with a 44.3 field goal shooting percentage after making 31-of-70 shots.
• EC was efficient from 3-point range in the second half, making 5-of-11 attempts (45.5-percent).
• The Soaring Eagles converted 13-of-15 free throws attempts.
• Gallaudet went 27-of-78 from the floor, equaling a 34.6 field goal percentage.
• The Bison had a monster day on the glass and out-rebounded EC 51-to-43.
• On the offensive boards, Gallaudet held a 25-to-13 advantage.
• Cleary led all scorers with 26 points in addition to eight rebounds, six assists, four blocks and two steals.
• Vespucci posted a double-double with 18 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds.
• Green also scored double-digit points for Elmira with 13.
• Jakkisha Smith scored a team-leading 19 points for the Bison.
• Kelsey Hudson led all players with a game-high 14 rebounds.

News and Notes

• Elmira won its first game of the 2016-17 season and is now 1-4 on the year.
• EC improved to 1-1 all-time against the Bison.
• The Soaring Eagles recorded season highs in several categories, including points scored (82), field goal percentage (44.3-percent), 3-points made (3) and 3-point field goal percentage (.368), free throw percentage (86.7-percent) and assists (19).
• The 82 points scored are the most in a single game for EC since matching the feat in an 82-47 win over Pennsylvania College of Technology on December 3, 2015.
• Vespucci has scored 18 points and picked up double-doubles in back-to-back contests.
• Cleary tied her previous season best with 26 points.
• With four 3-pointers, Cleary surpassed Maria Thannhauser '14 for eight-point all-time in program history with 93 career treys.
• With 100 total points scored so far this season, Cleary draws ever closer to the prestigious 1,000-point club. She surpassed Mary Symonds '09 (841) for 10th-place all-time with 858 career points.
• Today's contest marks the first time in their respective coaching careers that Elmira Assistant Coach Katie Stevens squared off against her old sister, Gallaudet Head Coach Stephanie Stevens.  

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles continue their four-game homestand at Speidel Gymnasium with a 6:00 p.m. non-conference bout on Tuesday, November 29th, against Pennsylvania College of Technology.