UTICA, N.Y. – A second-half surge by the Houghton Highlanders came up short on Tuesday night, as the Utica Pioneers punched their ticket to the Empire 8 tournament with a 68-61 victory.
 
With the Highlanders clinging to a one-point lead late in the first quarter, Utica drained a three and hit a layup to close out the first ten minutes up, 16-12.
 
In the second, the Pioneers began to click, opening up an 11-point lead as the teams went into the break.
 
The third quarter looked like it would bring much of the same, as the Pioneers maintained their lead until the final minute of play when Cori Beck and Janessa Davis hit back-to-back threes to pull Houghton within eight.
 
In the opening minutes of the final quarter Houghton made their move, as Brooke Lewandowski completed a three-point play and Caitlyn Cybart nailed a jumper to cut the deficit to three points.  But Utica quickly answered, rebuilding their lead, and the teams traded baskets throughout the remaining minutes.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 61 | Utica – 68
Records: Houghton: 6-18 (4-9 Empire 8) | Utica: 15-9 (8-5 Empire 8)
Venue: Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium, Utica College| Attendance: 203
 
KEY STATS
>> Rebounding, particularly on the offensive glass, played a vital role in tonight's outcome.  The Pioneers outrebounded the Highlanders, 36-26, but 14-5 on the offensive boards, leading to a disparity in second-chance points of 21-9 in favor of Utica.
 
>> Four Highlanders scored in double-digits, led by Brooke Lewandowski with 15 points, and Hannah Cybart with 13 points.  Cybart also collected a team-high eight rebounds and two blocked-shots.
 
>> Cori Beck posted 12 points and two assists, while Caitlyn Cybart chipped in 10 points and three assists.
 
>> Sydney Przgoda, Brigid Johndrow and Nicolette Conkin combined to score 51 points, tallying 18, 17 and 16 points apiece, respectively.  Przgoda pulled down 13 rebounds to complete a double-double, while Johndrow also notched a double-double with 10 rebounds, while adding seven assists.
 
UP NEXT
Houghton will play their final game of the season on Saturday, February 22 when they host cross-county and Empire 8 rival Alfred University in the Nielsen Center at 4:00 p.m.