ELMIRA, N.Y. – Houghton women's basketball won in conference play against the Soaring Eagles of Elmira College, 66-59 on Friday night.

The Soaring Eagles would be quick to take to the court, scoring 8 points before Emily Swanson put the Highlanders on the board with a free throw. Elmira would ultimately take the first quarter, closing out with a 7 point lead (13-20). The Highlanders would come back to the court determined and would find themselves tied with Elmira twice during the second quarter and would go to halftime up 35-29, thanks to a pair of free throws by Brittany Lenart.

Entering the second half of the game, the Soaring Eagles would rally and tie the Highlanders three times during the third quarter. Thanks to a string of 7 free throws by the Highlanders, the third quarter would end with Houghton up by 3 (45-42). The fourth quarter would start off with a pair of layups by Brooke Lewandowski (assisted by Hannah Haskell and Alex Steele) in the first minute. Elmira would continue to chase after the Highlanders, but would find themselves unable to close the gap no more than 2 points at any given time. With a free throw by Emily Swanson in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter, the Highlanders would themselves up by 7 points and claim the win.

GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 66 | Elmira - 59
Records: Houghton 11-8 (4-6) | Elmira College 4-14 (0-0)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium | Elmira College | Elmira, NY

NOTABLE STATS
> The Highlanders shot 44.7% from the field (21-47) and hit 23-of-28 (82.1%) from the free throw line. The Soaring Eagles shot 33.9% (19-56) and hit 14-of-22 (63.6%) of free throws.

> Brittany Lenart would lead the Highlanders on the scoreboard, contributing 23 points; the most in a game by a single player so far this season.

> With scoring 23 free throws, this game saw the most successfully made free throw attempts yet this season.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders will take to the court again on Saturday, February 2^nd, at Hartwick College.