YouTube Recap | SaxonTV Play of the Week

ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team found themselves in another physical battle with Empire 8 opponent as Utica College was able to squeak out the narrow victory, 57-51.
 
The Saxons (2-14, 0-8 Empire 8) were led by sophomore forward Bri Hicks (Burlington, VT/Ithaca) as she finished with a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds). Sophomore guard Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) led the team with 17 points. Junior guard Katlyn Boland (New York, NY/A. Phillips Randolph) continued her scrappy play, grabbing eight rebounds and adding four assists.
 
Hicks got off to a fast start for Alfred, scoring the team's first four points which made it 4-2 with just under two minutes into the game in favor of Alfred. The Pioneers were able to gain the lead off an Ashley Mayo layup to make it 6-4 in favor of Utica. Utica gained a three-point advantage from a fast break layup from Ashelyne Babb to make it 10-7 with 3:35 to go in the first. First-year guard Chloe Kottwitz cut the deficit to one as she knocked down her jumper to end the quarter.
 
Neither team was able to create much separation in the second quarter. Mayo helped Utica extend its lead to five as she converted her layup on a fast break opportunity to make it 20-15 with 3:56 to go before the half. The Saxons then scored eight unanswered points with Wilcox and Hicks each scoring four apiece.
 
 Alfred was able to take a 25-23 lead into halftime.
 
"We competed for 40 minutes and played really hard," said Head Coach Monique McLean. "There were a couple critical moments in the game where we didn't get the stops that we needed or the rebound we needed. I think this will be something in which we will get better at as the season is coming down to the end. We are close to where we need to be and just need to figure out how to get the win."
 
The Pioneers were able to pull away from the Saxons in the early stages of the fourth quarter, gaining a 45-37 lead. Alfred was able to cut the deficit to four on many occasions off of made three-point shots but Babb was able to put the game away in the final seconds with converting her free throws.
 
The Pioneers were led by Mayo as she finished with 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Babb chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
Alfred held the edge in points off turnovers (20-15), with Utica holding the slight advantage in second chance points (9-7) as well as points in the paint (24-22).
 
The Saxons are off until next Saturday, January 27, as they look to take down Elmira College in conference action.