Score: Elmira College 82, SUNY Cortland 77
Records: Elmira (5-0), SUNY Cortland (0-4)
Location: Cortland, N.Y. -- Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium
CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's basketball team continued its astounding start to the 2017-18 season on Thursday night, as a the Soaring Eagles improved to 5-0 with an 82-77 non-conference victory over the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland. With five consecutive wins to open the year, the Purple and Gold are off to their best start since winning five in a row to begin the 1997-98 campaign.
The EC offense overcame a season-worst 24 turnovers to post its most fruitful performance of the season. Not only were the 82 points scored a single-game best through the first five games of the year, but the Soaring Eagles recorded season highs in field goals (25), field-goal percentage (37.3), 3-point field goals (10), 3-point field-goal percentage (41.7), and assists (17).
Individually, third-year forward Sally Hogan '19 guided the Purple and Gold with the finest outing of her collegiate career. Coming off of the bench, the 6-foot-3-inch Hogan scored a game- and career-high 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor. The West Rutland, Vermont, native also notched her first-ever double-double with a career-best 12 rebounds. She netted 11 of her points in just five minutes on the court in the second quarter, including a run in which she tallied seven consecutive points for Elmira that was capped off by a successful and-one. In the fourth quarter with EC clinging to a two-point lead, she scored four unanswered points to give the Soaring Eagles a 78-72 cushion with less than a minute remaining in regulation.
Assisting Hogan on the offensive side of the ball was the senior duo of Danielle Cleary '18 and Emily Green '18. The two guards combined for all 10 of Elmira's treys with five apiece. Cleary, who finished with 20 points, scored 10 of those in the first quarter, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that put the Soaring Eagles ahead by two, 22-20. She also ended the second quarter with a trey, one that extended Elmira's lead to 39-33 at the break. Green, on the other hand, posted 14 of her season-high 17 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer early in the final stanza that gave EC the lead for good, 60-57.
Rachel Vespucci '19 collected double-digit rebounds for the third time this season with 12 and point guard Lindsey Heaton'19 hauled in a career-best 10 boards, as the Soaring Eagles dominated the glass as a team with a 53-to-37 advantage.
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Shannon Howley on Elmira scoring a season-high 82 points despite some ball control issues…
"We made some mistakes on their press early in the third quarter but we made an adjustment and settled in. We received contributions from everyone in different way and at important times in the game, too."
Coach Howley when asked about Sally Hogan's breakout performance…
"She had a big night. She had a mismatch inside and was really aggressive tonight. She was able to score on the block, from mid-range and she got to the foul line. She made it difficult on the Cortland defense."
Coach Howley on the Soaring Eagles building confidence in the locker room with a 5-0 start to the season…
"I think we are out to prove something. Tonight was a good test and we rose to the challenge. It's very early in the season but we are playing with confidence."
News and Notes
- Elmira extended its undefeated start to 5-0 with its fourth consecutive win away from Speidel Gymnasium.
- EC last began 5-0 during the 1997-98 campaign. Ironically, the Soaring Eagles earned their fifth win that year by beating the Red Dragons, 75-59.
- After dropping 15 consecutive matchups to the Red Dragons from 1998-2015, Elmira has beaten SUNY Cortland in back-to-back seasons.
- The Purple and Gold had their best offensive night of the young season with single-game highs in points (82), field goals (25) and 3-point field goals (10).
- Elmira grabbed 50-plus rebounds for the third time in 2017-18 and recorded its best rebound margin at plus-16 (53-to-37).
- Cleary scored 20-plus points for the second time in as many games.
- Green's five 3-point makes tied her single-game career-high.
- Hogan more than doubled her season's point production with a career-best 24 points.
- Hogan picked up her first-ever double-double with 12 boards, also a career high.
- Heaton also established a new career high for rebounds with 10.
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will try to make it six in a row to kick off the 2017-18 season on Sunday, December 3, when the EC women travel to Aurora, New York, a for non-league contest against Wells College. The opening tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.