HOUGHTON, NY— The Utica Pioneers pulled away down the stretch to defeat the Houghton Highlanders on Friday night, 51-42.
 
The Pioneers overcame 23 offensive turnovers to a swarming Houghton defense, and limited the Highlanders to only 18 percent shooting from the floor. 
 
Houghton, who entered the night averaging nearly eight three-point baskets per game, hit only one shot from the beyond the arc, finishing 1-for-37 from long range.
 
Utica led by five at the half, but the Highlanders trimmed the deficit in the third.  With 39 seconds to play in the quarter, Carlee Miller sank a pair of free throws to cut the Pioneers' lead to only a point.  Seconds later, though, Utica's Brigid Johndrow hit a jumper at the buzzer to extend the lead to three points.
 
The Pioneers quickly pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and never led by less than six points, outscoring Houghton over the final 10 minutes, 11-5.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 42 | Utica – 51
Records: Houghton: 9-15 (3-12 Empire 8) | Utica: 19-5 (10-5 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 142

NOTABLE STATS
>> The Highlanders committed their second-fewest turnovers of the season, giving the ball away only eight times.  They also outrebounded the Pioneers on the offensive glass, 25-to-11. 
 
>> Carlee Miller scored a game-high, and new career-best, 21 points, knocking down 7-of-19 shots from the floor and 7-of-9 from the line.  She also collected a career-high 16 rebounds, notching her second double-double of the season, and added a game-high five steals.
 
>> Alexis Klohr came within a point of a double-double of her own, scoring nine points, while grabbing 11 rebounds and picking up four steals and four assists.
 
>> Petrino DeMarco led the Pioneers with 13 points, while Johndrow added 12 points, 10 boards and five assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow afternoon for their season finale against the Nazareth Golden Flyers at 2:00 p.m.