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Hamburg, NY -- Three players turned in double-digit point performances to lead the Elmira College women's basketball team to a 63-58 road win over non-conference opponent Hilbert College.  Elmira's Karli Pochkar '16 led all scorers with 15 points.
 
As the final score indicates, tonight's game was a close one.  Neither team took a commanding lead in the first half as the largest lead was held by the Hawks of Hilbert, a six point lead, midway through the first half. 
 
Trailing 18-12, the Soaring Eagles would use a 13-to-4 run to take a 25-22 lead with 4:28 to play in the half.  Elmira's shooting behind the arc was a major factor in the run as the Purple and Gold knocked down three three-pointers, one by Danielle Cleary '18 and two by Kelsey Geisler '15.  The Soaring Eagles would ride that momentum into halftime as the Elmira women took a 32-29 lead into the break. 
 
Pochkar paced the Soaring Eagles in the first half with eight points and six rebounds.  Classmate Meghan Loya '16 was held to just two points, but her effort on the boards helped Elmira maintain their lead as she pulled down 10 first half rebounds, seven defensive and three offensive. 
 
In the second half, the game stayed up for grabs for a good portion as six lead changes occurred in the first 6:50 of the half.  However, at the 13:10 mark, the Soaring Eagles would piece together a mini 8-0 run to take a 50-43 lead.  Similar to their run in the first half, this one was also fueled by Elmira's three-point shooting as a pair of threes from Makinsey Carolus '18 and Allie Olsen '16 put EC ahead by seven.
 
Elmira's mini 8-0 run would eventually turn into an 11-1 run and a 53-44 lead at the 10:41 mark of the half.  EC's nine point lead looked like it would be enough to see them through to the finish line but the Hawks had a run of their own, a 14-to-7 one that spanned 8:11 that cut the Elmira lead to 60-58 with 2:30 left to play in regulation.
 
From the 2:30 mark, both teams would struggle shooting the ball as neither team was able to make a field goal.  The Hawks would resort to fouling late in the game, sending Cleary to the line but the rookie proved to be up for the challenge as she calmly drained both attempts to put EC ahead by four with 29 seconds to play.
 
Nine seconds later, Elmira would commit a foul of their own, sending Hilbert's Amber Hay to the charity stripe for a pair of shots.  Hay would miss both attempts, and would be forced to commit a foul to stop the clock, sending Loya to the foul line where she would make one-of-two foul shots, sealing Elmira's 63-58 victory. 
 
Pochkar led the charge for Elmira with 15 points, tying a career-high for the third year forward, and was one rebound shy of a double-double as she pulled down nine boards. Pochkar was one of three Soaring Eagles to put up double figures in the point department as Geisler and Cleary scored 13 and 10 points, respectively.  Loya also had a noteworthy game as she registered five points and 14 rebounds. 
 
The Soaring Eagles will be back in action next Tuesday, December 2nd as the Elmira women return home to Speidel Gymnasium for a non-conference matchup with the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.