UTICA, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team went on the road to Utica College on Friday evening. The Saxons (8-15, 4-10 Empire 8) came out on top over the Pioneers by a score of 72-63 for their second straight win.
Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) helped AU out to a quick start, as she scored the first four points of the game. Utica scored the next five to take its first lead at the 5:32 mark of the first quarter.
Down 7-6 with 4:22 on the clock, Alfred began an 11-2 run with help from three-pointers on the part Katlyn Boland (A. Phillip Randolph),Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley), and Chanice Battle (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood). AUclosed out the first quarter leading 17-9.
The Saxons had some trouble keeping the Utica offense under wraps in the second quarter, allowing 21 points to the Pioneers. O'Toole and Battle both made their second shots from beyond the arc to keep pace with Utica and maintain the lead prior the halftime break.
Coming out of halftime, AU held a 33-30 advantage. A quick couple of buckets from Utica to start the third quarter gave the Pioneers their first lead since the 3:55 mark of the first quarter.
The teams traded buckets until Utica took its largest lead of five points at the 6:37 mark of the third. An 11-1 run, fueled by Battle's third long ball of the contest, helped the Saxons regain the lead, 44-42, with 4:49 to play in the quarter.
A fast break layup from Battle put AU up by as many as six points but a late Utica three made it 52-49 in favor of Alfred at the end of three.
A pair of made free throws pulled the Pioneers within one to begin the fourth quarter. The Saxons got things going after that with buckets from Wilcox and Bri Hicks (Burlington, VT/Ithaca)followed by another three from O'Toole to push the Alfred lead back up to 8 points.
O'Toole converted her fourth three-pointer of the game with 4:21 to go and cushioned the Saxon lead. AU would run out the clock from that point and secure back-to-back conference victories.
"Proud of our toughness today," Head Coach Mike Moskowitzsaid. "Utica did a good job of trying to make us uncomfortable by switching defenses in the first half. However, in the end, we only turned it over eight times the whole game. We spoke about being the tougher, more resilient team, and even when they made a big run to start the second half, we refocused and strung some stops together. We also finished the game well by keeping our composure and making some big free throws late. Tough win by our squad tonight."
Wilcox was the high scorer with 15 points. O'Toole was on fire from behind the arc, going 4-4 for 12 points on the day. Hicks also finished with 12 and grabbed a team high 8 rebounds. Battle was the fourth Saxon to score in double figures with 11 points while also dishing out four assists. Lyndsey McCoy (Middleburgh, NY/Middleburgh) finished with nine points and four assists. Boland had a team high four steals.
The Saxons will go to St. John Fisher College for a matchup with the Cardinals tomorrow at 2PM.