HOUGHTON, NY – It may not have been their prettiest game, but the Houghton Highlanders pulled out a much-need victory on Tuesday night, defeating the Alfred Saxons in a defensive struggle, 55-46, as senior Kayla Camacho moved into the top-10 in Highlander career scoring. 
 
With playoff seeding implications on the line, scrappy defense, coupled with a 19-point, eight rebound effort by Tabitha DeVries helped avenge an earlier-season loss to the Saxons.
 
After Alfred jumped out to an early 7-2 advantage in the opening minutes, the Highlanders reeled off a 12-0 run, and finished the first quarter up 14-8.
 
Houghton continued to separate in the second, heading into the half with a 29-19 lead. 
 
In the third, the Saxons cut the lead all the way down to four points before Houghton rallied to take an eight-point lead into the final quarter of play.
 
Again Alfred rallied, closing the gap to five points with 5:40 remaining, but once again, Houghton responded, and a three-pointer from Crysta LaCrosse extended the Highlanders lead to double-digits, and Alfred would not present any further threats in the waning minutes.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 55 | Alfred – 46
Records: Houghton: 17-8 (8-8 Empire 8) | Alfred: 13-12 (7-9 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 135

NOTABLE STATS
>> While the Highlanders lost the turnover battled (18-to-13), they outrebounded the Saxons 52-to-32.
 
>> Kayla Camacho posted 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two assists.  She now has 1,106 career points, passing Wendy Ivey ('01) for 10^th place on the scoring big board.
 
>> 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).  With at least one game remaining in the season, Camacho needs only 7 rebounds and six steals to join that exclusive club.
 
>> LaCrosse chipped in 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Lilly Bentley pulled down a new career-best 15 rebounds in only 16 minutes of play.
 
>> Jayda Felker and Jaidyn Chest led the Saxons with 13 and 11 points apiece, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
Having taken the higher seed away from the Saxons, the Highlanders head into the Empire 8 conference championship tournament as the number-six seed and will travel to Rochester this Saturday, February 22 to take on the St. John Fisher Cardinals at 2:00 p.m.