Women's Basketball | 1/2/2009 7:42:00 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT women's basketball team fell to Utica College 78-58 in Empire 8 action on Friday evening at Clark Gymnasium.

RIT trailed 14-2 early in the first half to the Pioneers. #Sharon Dennis (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool)# (Liverpool, NY) scored the games first points 21 seconds into the game but the Tigers were held scoreless until the 15:51 mark on a layup by #Kelly Votolato (Raynham, MA/Cranston East)# (Raynham, MA/Cranston East).

The Tigers trailed by 15 points late in the first half but a bucket by #Jasmine Maisonet (Baldwin, NY/Sacred Heart Academy)# (Baldwin, NY/Sacred Heart) off a Utica turnover cut the lead to 39-28.

RIT shot 35.1% from the floor in the first half on 13-of-37 shooting from the floor. The Tigers were 0-for-7 from three-point land.

The Tigers opened up the second half scoring the first five points, cutting Utica's lead to six points on a three-pointer from #Danielle Furman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport)# (Coudersport, PA) and a layup by Dennis.

The Pioneers responded with a 13-4 run opening their back up to double-digits.

RIT made another run midway through the second half, cutting the Pioneer's lead to nine points on two separate occasions.

Utica made a big run at the end of the half to win by 20.

Sharon Dennis (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) posted her seventh double-double of the season scoring 16 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. She scored 10 of her 16 points in the second half.

#Tara Holaday (Arcola,IL/Arcola)# (Arcola, IL) scored a career-high 16 points, including 10 in the second half. Danielle Furman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) finished with 10.

Jessica Berry led Utica with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Mallory Davis finished with 15 points while Devon Croll and Katie McGee each had 13 points.

RIT, 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Empire 8, will host Elmira College on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm in Clark Gymnasium.