Score: Elmira College 65 – Houghton College 62
Records: Elmira (4-8, 1-3 E8), Houghton (7-7, 1-4 E8)
Location: The Nielsen Center – Houghton, N.Y.

HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's basketball team used a fourth-quarter comeback to best Houghton College, 65-62, for its first Empire 8 Conference win of the season on Tuesday night.

The action really got going in the fourth quarter, as Lindsey Heaton '19 drained her only trey attempt of the game to put EC down just one-point, 55-54, with 4:16 left in the game. Lauren Franklin '20 then followed that bucket up, two processions later, with a layup that gave the Soaring Eagles their first lead since the first quarter, 56-55, with 3:14 remaining.

Danielle Cleary '18 helped the Soaring Eagles maintain the lead with two baskets in the final two minutes to keep the advantage at three points. However, the Highlanders did not give up, as Laurie Call made a layup a layup with 1:16 remaining to keep the margin within one point, 60-59.

All Elmira had to do was hit its free throws to seal the victory and that's what it did. Rachel Vespucci '19 and Emily Green '18 combined to go 5-of-6 from the charity stripe in the final 26 seconds to seal the 65-62 victory.

The Soaring Eagles started the game off slowly, as the Highlanders got an early first-half lead. Houghton started the game on a 13-3 run, which came to an end at the 5:41 mark of the first. The Highlanders strong play continued into the second, as they finished the half with a 35-26 advantage.

Elmira came out of halftime in a new gear, as they started the half with a 9-2 run, to pull the deficit to 37-35. The run was bookended by 3-pointers from Cleary and Green.

Unfortunately for EC, this momentum did not last the entire quarter, as Houghton went on its own 8-2 run near the end of the third. With 54 seconds remaining in the quarter, Emily Swanson sank two free throws to give the Highlanders the 49-40 lead. EC answered with three free throws of its own at the end of the third to decrease the deficit to 49-43. These free throws were crucial, as it kept the game at a manageable distance and sparked EC's late run.

The trio of Cleary, Vespucci and Heaton were critical to Elmira's success, as they combined for 52 of EC's 65 points. Cleary led the way with a game-high 21 points and Heaton finished second on the team with 16. Vespucci recorded a monster double-double with 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Franklin posted the strongest game of her rookie campaign with seven points and nine rebounds.

Turning Point
Elmira kept the game close throughout, as it never let the second half deficit grow to more than nine points. This was critical to EC's victory because it kept the deficit close enough to allow the late run. After sinking three free throws at the end of the third quarter, the Soaring Eagles were only down six points. When Heaton hit her trey with 4:16 left, the game's momentum had started to swing in Elmira's favor. Once Franklin hit her layup to give Elmira the lead, the contest was in the Soaring Eagles' hands. EC calmly hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Shannon Howley on Elmira's thrilling victory over E8 foe Houghton...
"I think that we dug in mentally and made plays, particularly in the second half. I was proud of the effort."

Coach Howley on EC's improved play in the second half...
"We didn't make many changes at halftime. We felt that were running good stuff and getting good shots. We missed 10 layups and were being out-rebounded. So we cleaned that up and got better defensive rotation on the pick and roll."

Coach Howley on Rachel Vespucci's performance in the paint...
"She works hard and rewards us with second chances. In the second half tonight, she dominated the defensive boards so we could get out in transition."

Coach Howley on expanding freshman Lauren Franklin's role...
"We need her size. When she works the way she did tonight, especially in the second half, she brings the team crucial defense and offense."

Inside the Box Score

• The Soaring Eagles did not shoot the ball exceedingly well in tonight's contest, as they went 22-for-61 (36.1%) from the floor.
• On the other hand, Houghton did not fare much better, as it shot 25-for-64 (39.1%) from the field.
• Both programs struggled from distance, as EC shot 3-for-10 (30.0%) and the Highlanders went 4-for-15 (26.7%) from behind the arc.
• The Soaring Eagles excelled at the free throw line, going 18-for-25 (72.0%).
• Houghton did not do as well from the charity stripe, shooting 8-for-15 (53.3%) from the line.
• Elmira dominated the paint, as EC out-rebounded Houghton 47-37.
• The Soaring Eagles Committed 20 turnovers compared to Houghton's 15.
• Cleary led all scorers with a game-high 21 points.
• Heaton finished second on the team with 16 points.
• Vespucci recorded a monster double-double with 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
• Franklin posted a strong stat line with seven points and nine rebounds.
• Houghton's Swanson and Elle Reed finished tied for the team lead with 16 points.
• Reed and Madison Detwiler finished the game tied for the team lead with six boards.

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles improve to 4-8 on the season.
• Tonight's win was EC's first conference and road victory of the year.
• EC extended its winning streak against Houghton to eight games.
• Vespucci tied a career high with 18 rebounds.
• Vespucci's double-double was her third straight and the seventh of her sophomore campaign.
• Cleary's 21 points are tied for the second most that she has scored this season.
• Tonight's game was Cleary's fourth 20-point game this season.
• Heaton's 16 points are tied for the second most that she has scored this year.
• Franklin set new career highs in points (7) and rebounds (9).
• Elmira's 47 rebounds are tied for the second most that the team has recorded this season.

Up Next
Elmira continues Empire 8 play when it travels to face conference adversary Alfred University on Thursday, January 19th. The contest at the Saxons' Terry S. Galanis Family Arena is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.