HOUGHTON, NY – For the first 25 minutes, it looked like the Russell Sage Gators might pull off the upset of the year.  Unfortunately for the Gators, the Houghton Highlanders had other ideas and needed only the final 15 minutes to prove it. 
 
After trailing by four three minutes into the second half, the Highlanders began to battle back, and for the next several minutes the teams traded leads.
 
With Sage still up by one with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Tabitha DeVries scored her first points of the game, kick-starting a 14-4 Houghton run, putting the Highlanders up by nine heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Houghton kept the pressure on throughout the final minutes, outscoring the Gators, 18-10 in the fourth to pick up their 15^th win of the season.  The Highlanders outpaced the Gators, 41-18, over the final 17 minutes.
 
While Sage shot 44 percent from the floor in the first half, the Highlanders limited them to only 17 percent in the second half.
 
Meanwhile, Houghton, who shot only 33 percent from the floor in the first half, hit 44 percent of their shots over the final 20 minutes.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 71 | Russell Sage – 54
Records: Houghton: 15-1 (6-1 Empire 8) | Russell Sage: 4-13 (2-6 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 183

NOTABLE STATS
>> The Highlanders committed only 11 turnovers on the game, while forcing 22 from the Gators.  Houghton's opponents have turned the ball over at least 20 times in 12 of the team's 16 games this season.
 
>> The Highlanders currently lead the Empire 8 in defensive efficiency, allowing conference-lows in points per game (46.3) and opponent's shooting percentage (29.8%).
 
>> Kayla Camacho scored a game-high 23 points, going 8-for-17 from the field, 3-for-6 from long range, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line.  Camacho has reached double-digit points in 13 of 16 games this season, and has scored at least 20 four times.  She currently ranks third in the Empire 8 in points per game (15.3) and leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4).
 
>> Crysta LaCrosse finished with 10 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals, while DeVries posted 10 points, all in the final 13 minutes of the game.
 
>> Layla Acosta led the Gators with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"After a week off, we came out slow today.  Having said that, great teams find a way to win.  I always believe in this team's grit and determination.
 
"We had a very productive halftime conversation and they came out extremely ready to play again.
 
"The energy, effort and execution were great for the whole second half.  I'm really proud of everyone on our roster.  I've said it before, but I'm very thankful every day to coach this special group." – Head Coach Phil Pellegrino
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Rochester on Tuesday, January 23 to challenge the Nazareth Golden Flyers at 5:30 p.m.