ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team hosted the Gators of The Sage Colleges on Friday evening.
 
After a tough start, the Saxons (4-12, 0-5 Empire 8) made it a close game in the final minutes of the first quarter and into the second period, but the talented Gators team proved to be too much for AU in the 72-46 loss.
 
With a 15-4 deficit to open the game, the Saxons were being out played in every category during the opening minutes.
 
By the three minute mark of the first quarter, Alfred was able to gather itself and defend well enough to get multiple stops before back to back three point makes to end the opening quarter, which ended 19-14 in favor of Sage.
 
Another three in the early minutes of the second period from Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA / Simi Valley) cut the Gator lead to just two points.
 
The momentum stopped there for AU though and an 18-5 run made the score 39-26 at halftime.
 
Alfred was able to cut the deficit to just 10 during the third quarter but all momentum stopped there as the Gators controlled the remainder of the third and the entire fourth quarter to win by 26.
 
Ana Ion (Bucharest, Romania / Episcopal of Jacksonville) scored a team high 12 points for the Saxons while Lyndsey McCoy (Middleburgh, NY / Middleburgh Central) ended her night with 11.
 
Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY / Pine Valley) had eight points and grabbed a team high six rebounds.
 
AU will put this one behind them and be back at home on Saturday for another tough Empire 8 matchup against Utica College at 4PM.