KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Wolves outscored Utica University 17-9 in the fourth quarter and had a shot to tie the game, but it was off as the Keuka College Women's Basketball team lost to Utica 52-49 at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Saturday.

Lauren Hill (Cobleskill, N.Y. / Cobleskill-Richmondville) led Keuka College (3-8, 0-4 Empire 8) with 14 points and five assists. Meg McGwin (Rochester, N.Y. / Hilton) finished with 12 and Sydney Brown (Lowville, N.Y. / Lowville Academy) added nine for the Wolves.

Utica University 52 at Keuka College 49

Keuka College got out to a fast start with Lauren Hill facilitating the offense. She found Ellen Lavonas (Rochester, N.Y. / Brighton), making her first start of the year, down low for the layup, Hill then had a steal and found Katie Deathridge (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Marcus Whitman) for the layup. Killian Mahoney (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) knocked down a three for the early 7-0 lead. The Pioneers responded and took a 10-9 lead over the Wolves. Hill was the answer for Keuka as she drove to the hoop, made the basket, and got fouled. The senior converted the three-point play to make it 12-10. Meg McGwin scored in the final seconds to give Keuka a 14-10 lead after one.

Utica came out fast in the second quarter, scoring 11 straight for a 21-14 lead. Lauren Hill had another three-point-play to get the Wolves on the board, but Utica continued to make shots. The Pioneers capped a 16-3 quarter with a three at the buzzer to lead 26-17 at the half.

The two teams traded baskets for most of the third quarter. Keuka College cut the lead down to six, 32-26, following a three by Mary Cotter (Hershey, Pa. / Hershey), capping a 7-0 run. Utica would reestablish their double-digit advantage and take a 43-32 lead into the final quarter.

Keuka College quickly got back into the game, scoring seven straight with Sydney Brown and Lauren Hill hitting threes, cutting the lead to four. After a Pioneer basket, Sydney Brown hit another three to make it a two-point game. Utica pushed their lead to six, but Meg McGwin scored four straight for the Wolves. Sydney Brown then hit a three to give Keuka a 49-48 lead with 1:25 left to play. On the next possession, Utica got a basket to take the lead back. The Wolves missed late chances with under a minute left. Fouled, Utica made two free throws to take a three-point lead with 16 seconds left. The shot by the Wolves was off in the final seconds. Utica got the rebound and was fouled with 1.6 seconds left. They missed both free throws, but the Wolves did not have any timeouts remaining. The three-quarter court heave was short as the Pioneers defeated the Wolves 52-49.

KC Notes:

• The Wolves fall to 11-10 all-time against Utica University.
• 56 points is the magic number historically for the Wolves against the Pioneers. Keuka is 11-0 when scoring over 56 and 0-10 when scoring under
• The Wolves had the rebounding advantage against Utica, outrebounding the Pioneers 39-34. Utica entered the game as the second-best rebounding team in the Empire 8
• Sydney Brown and Lauren Hill tied for the team lead with seven rebounds
• Utica College scored half of their 52 points in the paint. Keuka College had 18 points in the paint
• Ellen Lavonas finished with four points and four rebounds in her first start of the season

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves are on the road on Tuesday to take on conference-leading St. John Fisher University. Tipoff between the Wolves are Cardinals is set for 5:30 p.m. on January 10.