KEUKA PARK, NY – Late heroics down the stretch propelled the Alfred University women's basketball team to sweep the season series against Keuka College, 54-51, on Saturday.
 
Jaidyn Chest (Mayfield, NY/Mayfield) was the leading scorer as she tallied a game-high 21 points. It marked the fifth time in her career that she has scored 20 or more points. Chest also added six rebounds and two steals to her stat line. Grace Rittenhouse (Dansville, NY/Dansville) registered 15 points, five rebounds and two steals.
 
"It's nice to win a game where we struggled so poorly to finish around the rim, especially on the road," head coach Mike Moskowitz said. "I thought our defensive communication and execution was excellent and that's ultimately what won us the game. Big one tomorrow against a really tough team in Elmira."
 
The Saxons (13-8, 7-5 Empire 8) built a 14-9 advantage to end the first quarter. Two free throws from Chest and a layup by Rittenhouse put Alfred University up by seven at the start of the second. Keuka College (5-16, 0-12 Empire 8) came down from behind at 6:09 on an 8-2 run to erase the visitor's deficit and tie the contest at 24-all. Rittenhouse broke the tie with a three-point shot and two free throws while Chest ended the second quarter on a last second layup. The Saxons went into the locker room up 31-26 at the half.
 
The second half was a battle as both teams played through six ties and four lead changes. The Wolves opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back three-point shots to take their first lead, 43-40. Chest brought the Saxons back on top by two after registering five combined points. Keuka College tied the game twice, but a layup by Jessica Beehler (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) at 2:25 ignited a 7-0 run that gave Alfred University the 54-47 advantage. The Saxons held on for the victory despite a free throw and three-point shot by the Wolves in the final seconds.
 
Alfred University shot 19-of-72 (.264) from the field and 5-of-20 (.250) at the three-point line while Keucka College was 18-of-66 (.273) overall and 4-of-12 (.333) from behind the arc. Both teams each made 11 free throws at the charity stripe. The Saxons outscored the Wolves, 28-18, in the paint while posting 15 points on 15 offensive rebounds and 10 on the fast break.
 
The Saxons travel south to play their next game at Elmira College on Saturday at 2:00 PM.