Drew 62, Utica 60 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (1/17/2012) - The Utica College women's basketball team kept the pressure on late in the contest but visiting Drew University seemed to have every answer as the Rangers earned a 62-60 victory in non-conference play at the Clark Athletic Center on Tuesday night.  UC was able to cut their deficit to just two points on two different occasions in the final 1:10 of the contest but Drew managed to cling to the lead en route to their fifth victory of the season.  Junior forward Meghan Fiore totaled a game-high 26 points and she also added nine rebounds for Utica.

The Rangers (5-11) snapped a seven game slide while the Pioneers have now lost eight in a row and saw their record fall to 5-10 overall.  Drew's offense featured a balanced attack which saw five players net nine or more points over the course of 40 minutes of action.  The contest featured five lead changes and four ties before it was all said and done. 

The Pioneers used a 7-0 run in a span of 2:49 in the first half to take their largest lead of the contest, 19-13, after senior point guard Katie McGee connected on a 3-pointer at the 11:21 mark.  McGee finished the day with 11 points and five steals.  The Rangers outscored Utica 9-6 in the final 11:11 of the first half, but the home team clung to a three point advantage, 25-22, as the first half horn sounded. 

The visitors used a 16-8 run in a span of 5:57 midway through the second half to earn a 48-42 lead with 7:34 left in the game.  The final 1:10 of the contest saw both teams combine for 17 points, and the Pioneers outscored the Rangers 10-7 in that span, but it proved to be too late as the visitors earned a two point victory.

Victoria Ault led the way for Drew with 14 points and she also picked up eight rebounds.  Leading scorer Danielle Barber chipped in 12 points, while Brianna Reich added 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench. 

Freshman Marissa Kahane accounted for 12 of the Pioneers' 14 bench points on the afternoon. Senior Justine Karst added nine rebounds and four points. 

UC returns to the hardwood for a weekend set at home against Empire 8 Conference opponents Alfred and Elmira on Friday and Saturday.  The Pioneers will take on the Saxons at 6 p.m. Friday night before hosting the Soaring Eagles at 2 p.m. on Saturday. 

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