UTICA, NY – The Alfred University women's basketball team came back from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but dropped its final Empire 8 regular season road match at SUNY Poly, 57-54, on Saturday.
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The Saxons (10-12, 4-9 Empire 8) had a slim lead of 17-16 in the first quarter before being outscored, 17-4, by the Wildcats (6-15, 3-10 Empire 8) in the second. AU rebounded in the third, outscoring SUNY Poly, 16-9. Although the Saxons had a slim 17-15 advantage in the fourth, it wasn't enough for a comeback.
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Jayda L. Felker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) led the way with 16 points, four rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block. Ashaya Wallace (Elmira, NY/Elmira) racked up a season-high 13 points to go with three rebounds, three steals and an assist. Natalee Collins (Waterville, NY/Waterville) grabbed 10 boards along with seven points and an assist.
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AU jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the first minutes of the first quarter. SUNY Poly went on an 8-2 run to erase the Saxons' lead, 11-9. Kate Quinn (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) and Felker both drained 3-point shots while Madison Dohse (Macedon, NY/Gananda) added a layup to get AU back in front. The Saxons led 17-16 at the end of the first quarter.
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The team found themselves in a hole in the second as the Wildcats outscored them, 17-4, to end the first half with a 33-21 advantage.
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Coming into the third quarter with ground to make up, Collins got things going with a 3-point shot off the assist from Felker. However, SUNY Poly went on another run of 8-4 to extend its lead by 13, 42-28. With under three minutes to go, Felker scored seven out of AU's next nine points to trim the Wildcats' deficit to five, 42-37, at the end of the quarter.
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A 3-point shot by Wallace at the start of the fourth brought the Saxons within two before the Wildcats scored their next three baskets to extend their deficit by seven, 49-42. In the final six minutes of the game, Felker, Wallace and Jaidyn Chest (Mayfield, NY/Mayfield) combined for six unanswered points to tie the game at 49-all. Wallace contributed five points in the final minute to keep AU's hopes alive, but the Wildcats posted eight points to bring the game to its final score.
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The Saxons next play their final three E8 regular season games at home, beginning with a rematch against Russell Sage College on Friday, February 13, at 5:30 PM.