HOUGHTON, NY – Sophomore forward
Bri Hicks (Burlington, VT/Ithaca) recorded her second straight double-double as the Alfred University women's basketball team fell to host Houghton College Tuesday evening, 57-43.
The Saxons (2-16, 0-10 Empire 8) were led by Hicks as she finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore forward
Samantha Pierre-Louis (Wheatley Heights, NY/Half Hallow Hills West) chipped in 10 points.
Neither team was able to gain the upper-hand in the first five minutes of the first quarter as the game was tied 4-4 after first-year guard
Amanda Figueroa (Cypress, TX/Rosehill Christian) drove the lane for the layup off the assist from junior guard
Katlyn Boland (New York, NY/A. Phillip Randolph). The Highlanders found some offense, going on a 7-0 run. Alfred halted the run as sophomore forward
Mandy Skeet (Corfu, NY/Pembroke) was able to convert the layup to make it 11-6. Houghton closed out the quarter on a 9-4 run.
The Saxons were able to cut into the deficit in the second quarter as they went on a 6-0 run that was fueled by layups from Hicks and Pierre-Louis. Houghton would maintain its lead, having the 32-24 advantage going into halftime.
Alfred opened up the second half, scoring eight unanswered points that was capped off by a fast break layup from sophomore guard
Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) to make it 32-32 with 3:25 left in the third quarter. The Highlanders were able to retake the lead, taking a 43-35 advantage into the final frame.
"This was one of our best defensive games this season," Head Coach
Monique McLean said.
"I'm very proud of the effort and fight that our team showed. We are looking to build on that momentum as we prepare for our nonconference weekend game."
Houghton held the slight edge in points off turnovers (13-12) and a larger lead in bench points (21-12), while Alfred controlled the points from the paint (30-24).
Alfred is next in action this Saturday, February 3, as they take on nonconference opponent Oberlin College at 3 PM at the Terry S. Galanis Center.
