HOUGHTON, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team opened conference play on Tuesday evening with a road matchup with Houghton College. The Saxons (4-6, 0-1 Empire 8) fell to the Highlanders by a score of 86-68.
 
AU came out of the gates strong and scored the first six points. The Highlanders hit an early three to get things going and pulled within one at the 4:31 mark in the first quarter. By the end of the period, Houghton took control and led 19-16. 
 
After going down as many as 8 early in the second quarter, a three from Amanada Figueroa (Cypress, TX/Rosehill Christian) brought the Saxons back within three with 7:43 left to play in the half. Not long after, the Highlanders went on a 9-2 run and extended the lead back up to 10 at the 4:02 mark. At the end of the first half Houghton led Alfred 40-29.
 
The second half began with two Houghton three's to quickly push the lead up to 17.  After a majority of the third quarter went in favor of the Highlanders, Jamie Wilcox (Forrestville, NY/Pine Valley) nailed two shots from beyond the arc in the final two minutes of the period to make the score 65-49 after three.
 
The Saxons were able to keep pace with the Highlanders in the fourth quarter, being outscored by just two points in the final period, but it was too little too late as Houghton topped the Saxons in the first Empire 8 game of the season.

"I thought we were outplayed and outcoached today in all facets," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. "They did a better job than us executing on both ends of the court and we have to be better at getting stops late in the shot clock. We will work to clean up some of the details that hurt us today ahead of this weekend's games."
 
Wilcox had another big scoring game as she led the Saxons with 19 points. Katlyn Boland (New York, NY/A. Phillip Randolph) notched a season high 16 points while grabbing four steals on the defensive end. Bri Hicks (Burlington, VT/Ithaca) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while Chanice Battle (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) scored 10 and led AU with four assists. 
 
Alfred will be back in action this Friday night when they host Empire 8 foe, Utica College at 5:30PM.