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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
-- Swords Forward Saxons –
