HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Despite leading for nearly 36 of the game's first 37 minutes, the Houghton Highlanders watched the Elmira College Soaring Eagles surge into the lead in the final three minutes to secure their first conference victory of the season, 62-65.
 
The Soaring Eagles scored Tuesday night's opening basket, and led for approximately 30 seconds before the Highlanders captured the lead and held off their opponent until the final three minutes of the game.
 
A three-pointer by senior Elle Reed brought the Highlanders back within two with three second remaining, but Houghton could not steal the inbounds pass and was forced to foul. 
 
The Soaring Eagles sank the second of two free throws and the Highlanders could not convert the desperation heave.
 
Game Vitals
Score: Houghton – 62 | Elmira – 65
Records: Houghton: 7-7 (1-4 Empire 8) | Elmira: 4-8 (1-3 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 149

Key Moments
>> After Elmira scored the game's opening basket, the Highlanders took off on a 13-1 run, capped by a nice inside move by Madison Detwiler.
 
>> The Highlanders took a nine-point lead into the break, but the Soaring Eagles began to close the gap in the third quarter.  With Houghton leading by only three at the quarter's midpoint, sophomore forward Emily Swanson scored the Highlanders' next eight points, capped by a strong drive and finish in the lane to give Houghton a nine-point lead.
 
>> In the final quarter the Highlanders again turned to Swanson, who hit another driving layup to keep the team ahead by eight.
 
The Soaring Eagles, however, would take off on an 11-0 run.
 
Laurie Call responded with a tough layup in the paint to pull Houghton within one, but Elmira sank four consecutive free throws to keep the Highlanders at bay.
 
Key Stats
>> The Soaring Eagles outrebounded the Highlanders, 47-37, on the night, and pulled down eight more boards than their opponents in the second half, 26-18.

>> Houghton received an impressive boost from their bench, outscoring Elmira's reserves, 21-0.

>> Swanson finished with a career-high 16 points on the night, 14 of which she scored in the second half. She shot 6-of-7 from the floor and hit all four of her foul shots.  She also corralled five rebounds and added a steal and a block.
 
>> Reed finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while Detwiler posted 11 points and six rebounds.
 
>> Call, who continues to be the team's sparkplug, finished her night with five rebounds, four assists, four points, a block and six steals.

>> Danielle Cleary led the Soaring Eagles with 21 points, while Rachel Vespucci added 15 points and impressive 18 rebounds.
 
Next Time Out
The Highlanders return to action on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. when they host the Ithaca College Bombers at the Nielsen Center.