UTICA, N.Y. – Clutch three-pointers by Leslie Moose (Swain, NY, Canaseraga HS) and Brittany Lenart (Panama, NY, Panama HS) in the final two minutes, pushed the Houghton Highlanders past the Utica College Pioneers on Saturday, 68-62.
 
After gaining a one-point lead on the final shot of the first quarter, the Highlanders led by as many as nine half-way through the second.  The Pioneers, however, closed the half on a 14-2 run to take a one-point lead into the locker room.
 
The third quarter saw four lead changes and neither team led by more than three points at any time, but Utica's Mary Micelli sank two free throws in the closing seconds to put the Pioneers back up by one heading into the final ten minutes.
 
After the Pioneers jumped out to a quick four-point advantage in the fourth quarter, Houghton came back.  Lenart sank a three to give the Highlanders the lead and Houghton went on an 11-3 run, capped by another Lenart three at the one-minute mark to put the team up by eight.
 
While the Pioneers scrapped to the end, the Highlanders held on for the victory.
 
Game Vitals:
      >Score:  Houghton College - 68   |   Utica College - 62
      >Records:  Houghton College: 7-8 (1-5 Empire 8)   |   Utica College: 6-8 (1-4)
      >Venue: Harold T. Clark Athletic Center, Utica, NY    |    Attendance: 97
 
Clutch Performances:
The Highlanders:
      >Elle Reed (Sherman, NY, Sherman Central School) and Moose each scored 15 points apiece and collected six and seven rebounds, respectively.  Moose also chimed in with three blocks.
      >Lenart and Maisie Pipher (Lowman, NY, Twin Tiers Christian) each chipped in another 13 points apiece.  Pipher also blocked three shots and pulled down 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.
 
The Pioneers:
      >Micelli led all scorers with 20 points.
      >Alaina Tripp added 16 points and posted a team-high 10 rebounds.
       
Stat Analysis:
      >While the Pioneers only turned the ball over nine times they shot only 20-of-79 (25.3 percent) from the floor and only 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) from three-point range.
      >Houghton posted one of their best shooting nights of the season, draining 24-of-53 shots from the floor (45.3 percent) and 7-of-17 from three point range (41.2 percent), but turned the ball over 22 times.
 
Next Time Out:
Houghton returns home for the first time in five games to take on the Elmira College Soaring Eagles on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.