ELMIRA, NY – A competitive outing from the Alfred University women's basketball team resulted in a 69-67 overtime loss to Elmira College on Thursday from the Speidel Gymnasium.

The Saxons (7-10, 3-6 Empire 8) forced 26 turnovers against the Soaring Eagles (9-7, 4-5 Empire 8) as part of their efforts.

Leah Harkenrider (Hornell, NY/Hornell) led Alfred University with a team-high 16 points. Grace Rittenhouse (Dansville, NY/Dansville) finished the game with 15 points and four assists and four assists. Natalee Collins (Waterville, NY/Waterville) added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Saxons.

"Tonight was a tough one," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. "We were lucky to be tied at the half, to be honest. Credit to Elmira, they killed us on the glass all game, made some big shots and made some key free throws. We need to be more consistent in all aspects in order to pull out a win on the road in a game like tonight."

Harkenrider sparked AU's offense early in the first quarter, scoring four of the team's first six points. The Saxons played from behind briefly, but a three-point shot from Harkenrider was followed by a layup from Jaidyn Chest (Mayfield, NY/Mayfield) to take back the lead. The Soaring Eagles responded with a basket of their own before the two sides entered the second quarter with a 14-14 tie. Deep shots from Rittenhouse and Samantha Fischer (Wappingers Falls, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) to begin the second quarter gave Alfred University a slim advantage. Both sides relied on late free throws in the first half before going into the break with a 28-28 contest.

Felicia Stewart (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) opened scoring for the Saxons in the second half. Elmira responded with a 9-0 run in the third quarter to lead by double-digit figures. Collins scored seven straight points for Alfred University to cut the deficit to 50-43 with one quarter remaining. Five combined points from Chest and Harkenrider to begin the fourth quarter had the Saxons trailing by one possession with just over seven minutes remaining. Stewart earned free throws for Alfred University and equalized the game moments later. Rittenhouse hit a deep shot for the Saxons to take back the lead with four minutes to play. Successful free throws from Stewart and Jessica Beehler (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) had AU leading by as many as six points. The Soaring Eagles climbed back to a one-point deficit with 25 seconds on the clock, and a late free throw in the closing seconds sent the Saxons into overtime.

In overtime, Elmira got off to a 5-0 run before a pair of free throws from Harkenrider left Alfred University trailing by a single possession. Chest and Rittenhouse each scored for the Saxons, but a late shot in the closing seconds couldn't fall for AU, as Elmira held on for the win.

Alfred University will next take some time off before traveling to Nazareth University on Friday, February 2 at 5:30 PM.