ELMIRA, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team took control in the second half during their 66-58 win over Elmira College on Tuesday night from the Speidel Gymnasium.

The Saxons (11-10, 6-6 Empire 8) relied on 19 points from their bench in the victory. The Soaring Eagles (8-13, 3-10 Empire 8) were held to 16.7 percent from three-point range.

"We did a nice job staying the course and the game plan," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. "Most of the first quarter, we were getting great looks and defending at a good enough rate, but there definitely were some lapses on both ends. In the next quarter, we did a much better job across the board and gave ourselves a seven-point lead with three minutes to go. Unfortunately, we had some not great possessions on both ends that allowed Elmira to dominate that stretch. In the second half, we converted on the great looks we continued to get. Specifically in the fourth quarter, we executed to hit some timely shots."

Ana Ion (Bucharest, Romania/Episcopal School of Jacksonville) led the Saxons with her fourth double-double performance of the season that included a career-high 24 points to go with 10 rebounds. Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) totaled 10 points and four boards off the bench. Gillian Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) and Karly Welty (Portville, NY/Portville Central) each finished with nine points.

Alfred University relied on the early scoring efforts of Flint in the first quarter, as she scored six of the team's opening eight points. A 6-0 run by Elmira was snapped by a three-point shot from O'Toole. The Soaring Eagles scored four more quick points, as they carried a 16-11 lead over the Saxons at the end of the first quarter. A layup from Rebecca Jewett (Nyack, NY/Nyack) sparked a 6-0 run for AU, as they took the lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. Seven consecutive points from Ion extended the lead for the Saxons. A 9-0 run by Elmira to close out the first half left Alfred University trailing 31-29 at the break.

Consecutive three-point shots from Welty and Grace Rittenhouse (Dansville, NY/Dansville) in the third quarter tied the game. Ion scored the final eight points for the Saxons in the third quarter, as they had a 48-43 lead over the Soaring Eagles entering the fourth quarter. The combined efforts of Ion and Welty resulted in eight of Alfred's opening ten points in the fourth quarter, as Alfred University led by as many as nine points. Elmira hit their shots late, but AU went 6-for-6 from the free throw line across the final minute of action to secure the victory.

"We need to carry this positive momentum into the weekend," Moskowitz said. "But we also need to be better as get down the stretch of the schedule."

Alfred University will next travel to play Hartwick College on Friday night with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 PM.