HOUGHTON, NY— If defense wins championships the Houghton women's basketball team is in good shape to make a run. 
 
The Highlanders held the high-powered, and previously unbeaten in Empire 8 play, Sage Gators to 13 fewer points than their average, en route to a 60-52 victory on Saturday afternoon.
 
The victory is the fourth time in their last five games that the Highlanders have held their opponent to 55 points or less.
 
Houghton jumped out to an early lead, thanks to some excellent post-play by Leslie Moose and Madison Detwiler, who combined for 10 first quarter points.
 
The Highlanders limited the Gators to only 27 percent shooting from the floor and 13 percent from long distance, 12 and 17 percentage points below their averages for the year.
 
On the offensive end, Houghton again spread the wealth, as Brittany Lenart scored 13 points, Moose 12, and Emily Swanson and Laurie Call added 10 and nine points apiece, respectively.
 
The Highlanders also knocked down 43 percent of their shots, including 46 percent from three-point range.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 60 | Sage – 52
Records: Houghton: 10-7 (6-2 Empire 8) | Sage: 11-4 (5-1 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 158

NOTABLE STATS
>> Cori Beck picked up nine assists for the Highlanders, giving her 17 in the past two days.
 
>> Houghton's six conference wins mark a new team high since joining the NCAA and Empire 8 conference in 2012-13.
 
>> Genevieve Schoff led the Gators with a game-high 20 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots.  Kaitlyn Bowman also added 10 points and 14 rebounds. 
 
UP NEXT
Houghton will host the St. John Fisher Cardinals in the Nielsen Center on Tuesday, January 23 at 8:00 p.m. in their first Empire 8 rematch of the season.  The Highlanders defeated the Cardinals in Rochester, NY earlier this season in a thriller, 58-55.