HOUGHTON, NY – After trailing by double-digits, the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles survived an upset attempt by the Houghton Highlanders to remain atop the Empire 8 women's basketball standings on Saturday afternoon, 75-72.
 
The Golden Eagles surged early, building an eight-point lead in the opening minutes, but Houghton eventually adapted to the Brockport full-court pressure, peeling off a 12-0 run to end the first quarter.
 
With 4:25 to play until the half, Houghton's Hannah Farley drained a three to give the Highlanders their largest lead of the game, 34-22.  Brockport, however, would respond with an 11-3 run to close the half down by only four points.
 
Houghton extended their lead early in the third, only to see the Golden Eagles come back again.  But in the waning seconds, Anna Dening hit a three-pointer to keep Houghton's lead at one.
 
After Brockport initially took back the lead, Houghton reeled off a 13-0 run to go back up by seven, 69-62 with 5:05 left on the clock.  But the Golden Eagles refused to go away, coming back multiple times until, with 58 seconds remaining, Cam Tooley hit a layup to give Brockport a one-point lead.
 
Following a Houghton turnover, Tooley sank a pair of free throws to extend the lead to three. 
 
The Highlanders had one final opportunity, but threw the ball away with three seconds left, as Brockport escaped.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 72 | Brockport – 75
Records: Houghton: 16-8 (7-8 Empire 8) | Brockport: 21-3 (14-1 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University| Attendance: 132

NOTABLE STATS
>> The Highlanders, who already hold the women's program record for three-pointers made in a season (225), hit 11-of-27 (41 percent) from beyond the arc, but committed 23 turnovers to Brockport's 11.
 
>> Houghton outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 43-to-33.
 
>> Kayla Camacho led the Highlanders with 21 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, one blocked shot, and two steals.  She has now scored at least 20 points in a game 11 times this season has 1,090 points, trailing Wendy Ivey ('01), who currently holds 10^th place by only one point.
 
>> Only three women's basketball players in Houghton history have posted 1,000 points, 450 rebounds, 200 assists, and 150 steals: Alicia (Campbell) Mucher ('03), Ivey, and Leah French ('10).  Camacho needs only 12 rebounds, and eight steals to join that exclusive club.
 
>> Tabitha DeVries and Lilly Bentley each scored 10 points, while Crysta LaCrosse chipped in seven assists and nine rebounds.
 
>> Stephanie Jean-Baptiste led the Golden Eagles with 26 points and five steals.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center on Tuesday, February 18 for the regular season finale against conference rival Alfred University at 5:30 p.m.