ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team fell to new Empire 8 opponent The Sage Colleges Friday evening 75-59 at the Galanis Family Arena.
 
The Saxons (2-13, 0-7 Empire 8) were paced offensively by sophomore guard Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) 19 points while first-year guard Chloe Kottwitz (Bolivar, NY/Bolivar-Richburg) and sophomore guard Bri Hicks (Burlington, VT/Ithaca) both chipped in 13 points apiece. Junior guard Katlyn Boland (New York, NY/A. Phillips Randolph) led the team in rebounds as she grabbed a career-high 10 boards. Boland also had six assists.
 
Hicks got the game off with driving the lane for the layup to give Alfred the early 2-0 lead. The Gators answered as Emily Parslow knocked down a three to give them the 3-2 advantage. Sage was able to find some separation as Genevieve Schoff hit her three-point shot to give the Gators the 8-4 advantage with 7:25 to go in the first quarter. Kottwitz answered with her own three to cut the deficit to one. Sage gained their biggest lead of the first of a fast break layup from Schoff to make it 20-9 in favor of the Gators. The Saxons ended the quarter on an 8-1 run to make it 21-17.
 
Sage maintained their lead for the second quarter but not got a lead of more than four points. Kaitlyn Bowman was able to convert her layup attempt to make it 32-28 before first-year guard Lyndsey McCoy (Middleburgh, NY/Middleburgh Central) hit her shot beyond the arc to make it 32-31 with 3:08 before halftime. The Gators took a 37-34 lead into halftime.
 
The Saxons continued to play hard through the third quarter as they took back the lead off a fast break layup from Kottwitz with 4:26 to go in the third. Parslow was able to get the lead back for Sage with a three-pointer. The Gators were able to pull away in the final minutes of the third as they went on an 11-1 run.
 
The Gators took advantage of second chance opportunities, edging out the Saxons, 14-13. Sage also held the advantage in points off turnovers, 21-17.
 
The Saxons are back home tomorrow, January 20, as they host conference foe Utica College at 4 PM.