ELMIRA, N.Y. – Russell Sage College was upended 77-69 at Elmira tonight in Empire 8 Conference action.

Freshman guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) established a career-high with 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting in the road setback.  The rookie topped all players with 12 first-half points to send the Gators (6-4/2-1 E8) into the locker room knotted at 38. The seven three-point baskets in the contest ranks in a tie for the second-most three's in a game at RSC.

Sophomore guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac), the reigning E8 Rookie of the Year, added 14 points on 50.0 percent shooting, while forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), a graduate student, contributed 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and seven rebounds.

Senior guard Sammy Pasinella (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) dished out a game-high seven assists, while sophomore guard Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/RCS) registered six helpers.

Following the deadlock after the opening 20 minutes, the Soaring Eagles (6-4/2-2 E8) used a 12-2 run across 3:52 to open up a double-digit advantage midway through the third quarter. RSC answered with a period-closing 11-2 run to head into the final frame trailing by one, at 54-53.

Elmira, now 3-0 at home, regained some breathing room with a 15-5 jaunt spanning 6:19 of the fourth quarter.  Down 69-60 with 2:12 left following the run, Acosta knocked down a pair of three-pointers to get the Gators within three, 69-66, with 1:11 to go.

The Soaring Eagles closed the contest by going 8-of-10 at the foul line during the final 1:07 to seal the home victory.

Elmira had four players score in double figures tonight.

Sophomore forward Nevaeh Winston led the victors with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while sophomore forward Desiree Roy recorded a double-double of 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 11 rebounds.

Looking ahead, RSC is back on the court tomorrow afternoon at Alfred. The E8 contest is set to begin at 2:00 pm.

Notes: The Gators are coming off a semifinal appearance in the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament…11 players returned from the team…Faraj and Pasinella highlighted the group…Faraj, the 2021-22 E8 Rookie of the Year, surpassed 500 career points on Dec. 29 vs. Rhode Island College…Pasinella, a two-time All-Conference selection, opened the season ranked sixth in program records with 120 career made three-pointers…Head coach Allison Coleman began her ninth season at the helm with an overall record of 119-74…She secured her 125th career victory on Dec. 3, 2022 vs. Keuka.

#SageNation