The Utica College women’s basketball team (5-2) improved their win streak to three consecutive games after defeating the Cazenovia Wildcats (1-3) Monday night at the gymnasium in the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center. The score was 65-32.

Cazenovia’s 32 points is the fewest an opponent has scored against the Pioneers so far this season. The Wilcats shot 22.2 percent from the floor and made 12 of their 54 field goal attempts. Head coach Michele Davis went in-depth about the team’s defensive performance Monday night.

“Right from the get-go, we did press them with a 2-2-1 on end line and we pressed a 1-2-2 three-quarter court on made baskets,” Davis said, “so we were really trying to put pressure on them early on, trap them, try to get them flustered and we didn’t necessarily pick their pockets but we definitely forced turnovers.

“The full court defense helped us into the half court and we did a phenomenal job of one-and-done. They took a shot and everybody boxed out, everybody did, and went after the ball and looked to push it up the court quickly and try to get something in transition.”

Utica started the game on an 11-0 run in the first 6:19 of the contest. The Pioneers never looked back, as the halftime score was 31-13. The lead eventually grew to 30 points when freshman Adriana Suprenant made a free throw with 8:18 remaining in the game. UC’s big lead throughout the game gave Davis the opportunity to play all 17 of her players.

“It was really exciting that we got everybody in,” Davis said. “I think we got good, quality minutes for everybody… We had five new people on the floor and the passing was great. The defense was good. There was really only one lapse in my opinion and that’s just nice when everybody went in and bought into a system and did what they were supposed to do. Whether it was the first five out there or the last five that I pulled off the bench, it made no difference. They all played well.”

The Pioneer bench scored 35 points, led by sophomore Casey Button’s career-high seven points. Button, along with freshmen Hannah Jennings and Stephanie Beck, scored their first collegiate points against the Wildcats. A total of fourteen Pioneers netted points.

The increased playing time for the bench players gave the Utica starters a chance to rest for their next game.

“It’s nice sometimes to have those roles reversed,” Davis said. “As a coach on the sideline, you can see so much more going on, so it’s good [for the starters]. Not for a rest, but also so they can see the game develop and see where the openings are. I think it’s important for their basketball IQ.”

Before the starters went to the bench, senior Justine Karst led all Pioneers with 11 points, and sophomore Alyssa Filkins scored nine points as she shot 57 percent from the floor. Junior Meghan Fiore added eight points and nine rebounds.