Score: Elmira College 65 – Pennsylvania College of Technology 23
Records: Elmira (2-4), Penn College (0-3)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Playing on the home hardwood inside Speidel Gymnasium was just what the Elmira College women's basketball team needed, as the Soaring Eagles showcased one of the best defensive performances in program history, with a 65-23 victory over Pennsylvania College of Technology on Tuesday night.

The Purple and Gold employed a balanced scoring effort, as four Soaring Eagles scored double-digit points. Emily Green '18 led all scorers with a season-high 15 points. Danielle Cleary '18 (13), Marissa Silverman '17 (12) and Rachel Vespucci '19 (11) rounded out EC's double-digit scorers. Vespucci also chipped in a career-high 16 rebounds for her third straight double-double.

The real story of the night was Elmira's staunch defense, as EC held the Wildcats to 23 points, the lowest by a Soaring Eagle opponent since the 1985-86 season. For the game, Penn College shot 9-for-55 (16.4-percent). Previous to tonight's matchup, the lowest field goal percentage by an Elmira opponent was 34.6-percent by Gallaudet University in the Purple and Gold's victory on Sunday.

The Soaring Eagles took control of the game with a 15-3 run to end the first half, growing a 19-6 lead to 28-12 by the end of the period. Green sparked the run with a 3-pointer at the 7:36 mark. The Wildcats did not hit another shot until the final 30 seconds of the quarter. Penn College struggled to find their range, as the Wildcats shot 5-for-26 (19.2-percent) from the field in the half

Elmira continued to pour it on, scoring 21 unanswered to end the third quarter and expanded the lead to 49-19. For the second straight period the Purple and Gold played exceptional defense, this time surrendering only two points to the Wildcats in the quarter.

The Elmira defense continued to suffocate Penn College in the fourth, as the Wildcats were again held below six points for the quarter. The Soaring Eagles held strong and cruised to the 65-23 victory.
 
Turing Point
The Soaring Eagles and the Wildcats stated the contest with a sloppy first quarter, as both programs exchanged missed shots for much of the opening period. However, the Purple and Gold broke out of that slump and started to play exquisite basketball in the second. EC went on a 15-3 run to end the period and extend its lead to 28-12 and the Soaring Eagles did not look back from there. On the other hand, Penn College's offense never found its footing, as the Wildcats had three separate quarters in which they scored under five points. Elmira controlled the rest of the game to secure the easy win.

In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Shannon Howley on Elmira's big victory over Penn College...
"I think defensively we did a good job. Our goal is to hold an opponent to 15 points or fewer in a quarter and we were able to accomplish that."

Coach Howley on the need for more balanced scoring...
"We are going to need a more balanced scoring going forward. Danielle Cleary and Rachel Vespucci are not going to put up double-doubles every night, we are going to need more help on the scoring side from more than two people."

Coach Howley on Rachel Vespucci's progression in her sophomore season…
"She put in a lot of work over the summer and she came back a different player mentally. I think that's the biggest difference. She is tough on herself, but when she relaxes plays the way she is capable of she can do really good things for us."
 
 
Inside the Box

• Elmira shot 27-for-65 (41.5 %) for the floor.
• On the other hand, the Wildcats went 9-for-56 (16.1 %) from the field.
• EC out-rebounded Penn College, 58-to-36.
• The Wildcats had 20 turnovers, compared to Elmira's 13.
• The Soaring Eagles hit four 3-point field goals; the Wildcats hit two of their 19 attempts.
• Green paced all scorers with 15 points, Cleary was next with 13, then Silverman's 12 and  Vespucci's 11.
• Vespucci grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
• Maddie Wenk led the Wildcats with nine points.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira won its second straight home contest.
• The Soaring Eagles improve their oval record to 2-4.
• The Wildcat's 23 points are the fewest allowed by Elmira since the 1985-86 season when D'Youville was held to 12 points. 
• Penn College's 16.1% field goal percentage is the lowest EC has held a team to in over 15 years. 
• Vespucci's 16 rebounds are a career-high and the most by a Soaring Eagle since Alex Balara '15 grabbed 16 boards on February 21, 2015, in a matchup against Alfred University.
• Vespucci has recorded a double-double in three straight games.
• With 13 points, Cleary now has 871 career points, 129 off of the prestigious 1000-point club.
• The 58 Elmira rebounds are the most that the Soaring Eagles have grabbed since a last season's matchup with Penn College (60).

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles continue their four-game homestand at Speidel Gymnasium with a 5:30 p.m. non-conference tilt on Thursday, December 1st, against the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland.