ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College had a trio in double figures in a 58-55 losing effort against Utica this afternoon. The Saturday afternoon E8 matinee served as a fundraiser for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Sophomore guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) gave the Gators a chance, but her tying attempt at the buzzer rimmed out.
Acosta and junior guard Olivia Huneau (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) each had 12 points, while junior guard Malena Gereau (Schroon Lake, NY/Schroon Lake Central) added 11.
Junior guard Gwen Eichen (Moriah, NY/Moriah) tied her career high with nine points.
Gereau had 11 rebounds, good for her first double-double of the season. Acosta added seven rebounds, and sophomore forward Emily Zeh (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) reeled in six.
Freshman forward Vanessa Hall, the E8's leading scorer, led the charge for the Pioneers (6-14, 3-8 E8). Her 21 points were a game-high, with 14 of those coming after the break.
Sophomore guard Haley Burchhardt added 13 points to the effort for Utica.
Looking ahead, RSC (5-16/3-9 E8) begins a three game road trip as they face off against Hartwick on Tuesday evening.
Gator Bites: RSC made its second-consecutive appearance in the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament Semifinals last season…Nine players returned from the team…They joined four newcomers to make up this year's roster…Head coach Allison Coleman began her tenth season at the helm with an overall record of 136-84…Sophomore guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) started the weekend leading RSC with a 13.6scoring average, good for sixth in the E8…She scored 30 points on 45.0 percent shooting in the E8 victory vs. Elmira on January 12, becoming the just seventh Gator to score 30 or more points in a game.
