Score: Elmira College 69, Alfred University 53
Records: Elmira (11-7, 3-6 E8), Alfred (2-15, 0-9 E8)
Location: Alfred, N.Y. -- Terry S. Galanis Family Arena

ALFRED, N.Y. -- An impressive first-half performance and a team-high 20 points from senior Danielle Cleary '18 guided the Elmira College women's basketball team to a 69-53 win on the road against Alfred University on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Soaring Eagles swept the two-game Empire 8 Conference series from the Saxons for the sixth consecutive season. It also marks EC's third conference win in its last four games.

The Soaring Eagles played one of their best halves of basketball this season in the opening 20 minutes against Alfred. Elmira scored a combined 41 points in the first and second quarters, the team's highest-scoring first half of the season. While the score was tied on a few occasions in the first quarter, EC never trailed in the contest. The Soaring Eagles broke an 11-all stalemate with seven consecutive points to end the period, including one of Cleary's game-high four 3-pointers.

Classmate Emily Green '18 found her stroke from 3-point range in the second quarter. The senior from Fredericksburg, Virginia, sunk all three of her treys in the stanza to help the Soaring Eagles secure a lead they would never relinquish.  One of those 3-pointers ended a 5-0 run for Green that extended the margin to 14 points, 40-26, late in the half.
Alfred's ice-cold shooting percentages prevented the Saxons from threatening EC's comfortable lead in the second half. The host Saxons shot a mere 19.4 percent (6-of-31) from the field in the second half, which included making just one of a dozen attempts from beyond the arc.

Sally Hogan '19 scored nine of her 13 points after the intermission to help secure the E8 win.  She scored five straight in the fourth quarter, beginning with an and-one after collecting an offensive board and sinking the put-back. The junior forward added another layup 28 second later to keep the lead at 12 points at 60-48. The margin would grow as wide as 17 points before the final whistle.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Shannon Howley on Saturday's Empire 8 win over Alfred…
"I am really proud of our effort despite playing three games in the last five days. We got back to who we are; we defended and rebounded. Anytime you can find a way to win road games in-conference you have to be happy."

Coach Howley on Danielle Cleary's performance against the Saxons…
"She was solid, and she let the game come to her. She was able to find the open teammate at the right time and knocked down some big shots."

News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 11-7 overall and 3-6 against Empire 8 opponents.
• The Soaring Eagles recorded season highs in rebounds (60), field-goal percentage (41.9), and blocks (8).
• Cleary has scored double-digit points on 14 occasions and in four consecutive games.
• Cleary tied the all-time record for most free throws in program history, held by former All-American Jessica Zoltowski '14 (366).
• Green has tallied double-digit points in six straight contests and has made multiple 3-pointers in seven of the last eight.
• Rachel Vespucci '19 was one rebound shy of her season-high with 13.
• Hogan scored double-figures for the seventh time in her breakout junior campaign.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will host the Gators of The Sage Colleges for an E8 matchup on Saturday, February 3, as part of the 36th Annual Elmira College Athletics Alumni Weekend. The contest will be held at the Murray Athletic Center at 4:00 p.m.