UTICA, NY -- Kate Thompson scored a season high 15 points, making 7 of 10 shots, to lead the Union College women's basketball team to a 58-57 victory at Utica College Tuesday. It was the fourth straight triumph for the Dutchwomen, who are now 6-1 on the season after the win at the Clark Athletic Center.
Union's
Kelsey McDonald added nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Amy Loya netted 12 points and grabbed five boards for the Dutchwomen.
Utica's Bridget Greenwald had a chance to tie the game after being sent to the free throw line with .5 left in regulation. Greenwald was able to convert the first of two free throws, but the second came up just short, and McDonald got the defensive rebound as time ran out. The Pioneers outscored visiting Union 27-11 in the final 10:22 of action to make it close in the final seconds.
Utica leading scorer Mary Miceli netted 10 of her 17 points in the final 5:11 of the contest to help lead the Pioneer comeback. UC's record moved to 4-4 overall headed into the Fall semester break. Christy Traglia netted a season high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor in the loss.
Utica led 28-27 with 1:12 left in the first half of play, but that proved to be the Pioneers' final lead of the contest as Union went on a pivotal 17-0 run over the course of the next 7:32 of play to take a commanding 44-28 lead with 13:40 to go in regulation. Thompson led the charge with seven points to help the visitors earn the 16 point lead.
Utica slowly chipped away at the lead over the course of the final ten minutes of action. Utica went on runs of 8-0 (in less than a minute), two 6-0 runs (each less than two minutes), and it closed with a 7-2 run in the final 3:00 minutes, but the comeback bid fell short. The Dutchmen used 20 caused turnovers in the victory. The Pioneers held Union to just 33.8% shooting from the floor, including a 20% ledger from behind the arc (5-of-25).
Union returns after the semester break on January 3 when it begins Liberty League play on the road (game five of a six game road slate) at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
