Syracuse, N.Y. – In a back-and-forth NE10 Conference battle between two teams looking to extend their respective five-game winning streaks, the Pace University women's basketball team claimed a 58-54 win over the Le Moyne College Dolphins on Saturday afternoon inside the Le Moyne Events Center.

The Setters shot 12-27 from beyond the arc, which is tied for the most three pointers given up by the Dolphins in a single game so far this season. Le Moyne went 3-18 from three-point land, but they pulled down 17 offensive rebounds which led to 17 second-chance points, compared to eight offensive rebounds for Pace which led to five second-chance points for the Setters.

Senior guard Lytoya Baker (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) recorded her tenth double-double of the season with a stat line of 13 points, 10 rebounds – including seven offensive rebounds – a season-high six steals and four assists in 39 minutes of action. In the last three Le Moyne games combined, Baker has recorded 14 steals.

Redshirt-sophomore forward Haedyn Roberts led Le Moyne in scoring with 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Emily Florvil (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth) contributed five points, five rebound – including three offensive rebounds – two steals and an assist in 16 minutes played.

Sophomore forward Arianna Stockinger recorded a team-high 15 to points to go along with 11 rebounds and two blocks. Graduate point guard Lauren Hackett also scored in double-figures for the Setters with 12 points to go along with a team-high five assists and two steals. Hackett's 12 points came via a team-high four three-point field goals, while Stockinger and sophomore guard Mackenzie Koch both knocked down three triples for the Setters.

First-year guard Sierra Linnin (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) made two of Le Moyne's three three-point field goals and finished the contest with eight points.

Following the loss, Dolphins drop to 5-4 in conference play while the Setters improve to 4-4 against NE10 competition and extend their winning streak to six games.

The Le Moyne College women's basketball team will play their next game on Saturday, January 14 against the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen on Ted Grant Court.

Game Details 
Pace knocked down four three-point field goals during the first five minutes of the first quarter to jump out to a 14-5 lead on the Dolphins.

A jumper by Ciara Collins at the 4:48 mark gave Pace an 11-point lead and forced a Le Moyne timeout.

Two jumpers from Roberts, and two layups from Baker during the final four minutes of the opening frame trimmed Le Moyne's deficit to 19-13 after 10 minutes of action.

With the help of their suffocating full-court pressure, the 'Phins went on a 7-0 run to start the second quarter and gained a 20-19 lead.

With 2:50 left in the first half, Baker got the ball at the top of the key and drove left. From above the left block the senior guard let go of a contested floater that hit the left corner of the rim. Florvil was fighting for position underneath the hoop, read the trajectory of the ball, grabbed a contested offensive rebound, immediately shot the ball of the glass, made the layup to put Le Moyne up 24-21 and was fouled on the shot for a three-point play opportunity.

Linnin made two free throws at the 2:14 mark of the second quarter to give the Dolphins a five-point advantage, but Koch drained a three pointer with 1:23 remaining in the half, then Stockinger made a jump shot with less than a minute on the clock to tie the game at 26-26 at halftime.

During the first Pace possession of the second half, Baker, who was positioned in the right side of Le Moyne's zone, jumped a pass on the perimeter, stole the ball and finished a layup at the other end to make it 28-26 Le Moyne.

The Setters responded with three straight made three pointers to take a 35-28 lead.

The teams went back and forth throughout the penultimate period, and an old-fashioned three-point play by Roberts with 3:58 left in the quarter put Le Moyne up 39-38.

Baker's defensive effort underneath forced a Pace miss with 3:40 left, then Sydney Lusher (Oneida, N.Y./Oneida) grabbed the defensive rebound and pushed the ball up the floor. The ball moved around the perimeter until Gruss caught it on the left wing and threw an entry pass to Baker above the left block. Gruss' defender left her to double Baker, so Gruss relocated to her left, Baker threw the ball back out, and Gruss knocked the triple to give the 'Phins a four-point lead.

Roberts scored a putback with 1:04 left in the third to put Le Moyne up 44-38, but Koch made a timely three-pointer with 0:52 on the clock to cut her team's deficit in half.

An offensive putback by Pace forward Tower Lorde with 4:09 left in the game made it 52-51 in favor of the Dolphins, then Hackett hit a huge three from the top of the key at the 3:00 mark to give the Setters a 54-52 lead. Then 50 seconds later, a midrange pullup by Collins from the right side of the floor increased Pace's lead to 56-54.

Lusher brought the ball up for Le Moyne, dribbled to the left wing and waited for a screen from Roberts.

Roberts set a great screen to Lusher's right, freeing Le Moyne's 5'11" point guard from her primary defender. The reigning NE10 Rookie of the Week took two hard dribbles to the free throw line then pulled up. Lorde, who was tasked with defending Roberts for most of the game, stepped up and did well to contest Lusher's shot, but Lusher sank the jumper anyway to cut Le Moyne's deficit back to two.

Le Moyne immediately went back into their full-court pressure defense, and trapped an opposing ballhandler as soon as she crossed half court, forcing a Pace timeout.

Pace inbounded the ball following the timeout with 25 seconds on the shot clock, and Le Moyne's group on the floor (Gruss, Lusher and Linnin at the top of the zone, Baker and Roberts at the bottom) delivered an outstanding defensive possession, and forced a Pace dead-ball turnover with three seconds on the shot clock.

Le Moyne inbounded the ball with 1:30 on the clock, and during the ensuing offensive possession they took an open three from the top of the key that missed long, but Baker grabbed the offensive rebound.

During the second-chance opportunity the 'Phins took a tough three at the end of the shot clock that missed short and went out of bounds, giving possession back to the Setters.

Le Moyne fought hard once again on defense, and forced another Pace turnover with 18 seconds left in the game.

The 'Phins called a timeout, during which they set up a play to get them a shot from the left wing.

Still trailing 56-54, Le Moyne took a three with 15 seconds remaining, but it missed short and Pace grabbed the rebound.

Shanice Sinclair was fouled during the next possession and made two free throws for Pace to give them a four-point lead.

Le Moyne was unable to score on their final possession and fell to the Setters by a score of 58-54.