KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Women's Basketball team took a 57-51 lead into the final quarter but the Wolves would fall to the Utica University Pioneers 69-64 on Saturday at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center.

Keuka College (1-20, 0-13 Empire 8) had four players score in double figures for the first time this season. Mary Cotter led the way with 18 points and six rebounds. Sydney Brown scored 14 for the Wolves. Caiden Crego added 13 and Meghan Ellis finished with 11 points in the loss.

Utica University 69 at Keuka College 64
The Wolves got out to a fast start against Utica University. Mary Cotter drained a three with 5:40 remaining in the first to give the Wolves a 9-2 lead. Utica made a couple of baskets, but Keuka answered right back with a three-point play by Maddie Kramer. Seven straight for the Pioneers made it a one-point game with two minutes remaining, but Sophia Babcock hit a three to push the lead out to 17-13. The quarter closed on a 6-2 stretch in favor of Utica as the game was tied 19-19 after the first.

Keuka College got the first four points of the second quarter from the free throw line. Utica would cut into the Keuka lead during the frame and a three-pointer 4:14 before halftime game Utica a 29-28 lead. They pushed their lead to four, capping off a 9-0 run, but Mary Cotter drew the margin back to one with a three. The lead would trade hands in the final minutes. Sydney Brown hit a three for the Wolves to send Keuka to the locker room at halftime leading 42-39.

The Wolves extended their lead in the third quarter. A three by Sydney Brown pushed the lead to 9 at 52-43. Later, Mary Cotter drained a three to give the Wolves a 10-point advantage, their largest of the game. The Pioneers closed with the final four points of the frame, but Keuka remained ahead 57-51 going into the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded baskets in the first minute with Caiden Crego making a jumper in the lane for the Wolves. However, Keuka College would go cold from the field. The Wolves were held without a point for over eight minutes. During that span, Utica went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. A three by Sydney Brown snapped the run and made it a two-point game, 64-62, but the Pioneers held onto the advantage late to defeat the Wolves 69-64.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College is now 11-12 all-time against Utica University. In the 23-game series, Saturday was the first time Keuka College scored over 56 points and lost
• Sydney Brown and Mary Cotter each hit four threes in the game for Keuka
• With the four triples by Brown, she moves into a tie for fourth on the career three-point list with 136. Sydney Brown also is in a tie for third on the single-season three list with 53
• Mary Cotter led the Wolves with six rebounds and Katie Deatherage was right behind her with five
• Caiden Crego set a new career high in points and assists with 13 and six
• Meghan Ellis tied her career-high mark of 11 points

Up Next for Keuka College: The two teams will be familiar with each other as they will run it back on Monday. Keuka College will travel to Utica University to face the Pioneers at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 12.