HOUGHTON, NY— After trailing most of the game, the Elmira Soaring Eagles pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and held on in the closing seconds to defeat the Houghton Highlanders on Tuesday night, 53-49, and clinch their first playoff berth since 2006-07.
 
In a defensive struggle, the Highlanders led by four early in the final quarter after Kayla Camacho drained a three-pointer.  But the Soaring Eagles went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead by two.
 
After Houghton tied the game, 38-38, Elmira ripped off another 6-0 run.
 
The teams traded baskets into the final minute before Abby Guiher sank a three to cut the Elmira lead to only three points.
 
After the Soaring Eagles hit a single free throw, Guiher sank a pair from the line, and Houghton trailed by only two points, 50-48, with 11 seconds remaining on the clock.
 
As the clock ticked down, Houghton had two more chances to score, but managed only a single free throw, while Elmira hit three more from the line.
 
With the win the Soaring Eagles stabilized their hold on fourth place in the conference.  Houghton currently sits in fifth place.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 49 | Elmira – 53
Records: Houghton: 14-7 (7-7 Empire 8) | Elmira: 13-8 (9-6 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 115

NOTABLE STATS
>> While neither team shot well from the floor (Elmira: 26.7%, Houghton: 22%), the Soaring Eagles hit 20-of-24 shots (83.3%) from the free throw line.  After taking only six free throws through the first three quarters, the Soaring Eagles went 15-for-18 in the final 10 minutes.  Houghton went 18-for-23 (78.3%) from the line on the night.
 
>> Camacho finished with a team-high 13 points, while Crysta Lacrosse added 10 points, four assists and three steals.
 
>> Abby Guiher went 3-for-6 on the night, including 2-for-4 from three-point range and 2-for-2 from the line, for a total of 10 points.
 
>> Neveah Winston led the Soaring Eagles with 13 points, six steals and seven rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to Dix Family Court on Friday, February 10 for a rematch with the Russell Sage Gators.  The Gators took the first matchup between the teams this year, in Albany, 75-67.