HOUGHTON, NY— Desiree Roy's dominant post play guided the #5 seed Elmira Soaring Eagles into the Empire 8 semifinal round, as they defeated the #4 seed Houghton Highlanders on Tuesday night, 65-58.
 
Roy scored 18 points, knocking down 9-of-14 shots from the floor, and pulled down 17 of Elmira's 32 rebounds.
 
In what would prove a refrain throughout the game, the Soaring Eagles separated early, leading by as many as nine points midway through the first quarter, before the Highlanders clawed back into contention. 
 
At the end of one, Elmira led by three.  At the half, the Highlanders had trimmed the deficit to only two.
 
Houghton stayed within striking distance throughout the third quarter until, with only four minutes to play, Crysta Lacrosse nailed a three to tie the game, and a free throw by Hannah Siewert gave Houghton their first lead of the game.
 
Elmira answered quickly and finished the quarter on a 7-0 run.
 
An Abby Guiher three-pointer with six minutes to go in the game would pull Houghton within a point, 56-57, but again the Soaring Eagles would pull away down the stretch, outscoring the Highlanders, 8-2, in the closing minutes.

Elmira advances to play #1 St. John Fisher this Friday, February 24 at 5:30pm at St. John Fisher University.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 58 | Elmira – 65
Records: #4 Houghton: 17-9 | #5 Elmira: 15-10  
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 326

NOTABLE STATS
>> While the Highlanders outrebounded the Soaring Eagles, 43-to-32, including 19-to-7 on the offensive glass, Elmira committed four fewer turnovers (8-to-12) and shot 11.5 percentage points higher from the floor and nearly 20 percentage points higher from the line.
 
>> Lacrosse led the Highlanders offense, shooting 7-for-12 from the floor and 4-for-8 from downtown, collecting 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.  She has topped 20 points in a game twice, and has accumulated exactly 300 points this season.
 
>> Guiher drained 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, finishing with 11 points and three assists. 
 
>> Nevaeh Winston and Lauren Bogota added 13 and 12 points apiece, respectively, for the Soaring Eagles.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders have qualified for NCCAA postseason play, but are currently waiting for details of time, location and opponent.