Women’s Basketball ends regular season with loss to Alfred State on Senior Day

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's basketball concluded the regular season with a 54-42 loss to Alfred State College at Donahue Pavilion Saturday afternoon.

Prior to tip-off, the Celtics (11-12, 9-7 AMCC) celebrated five student-athletes for Senior Day: Emma Aubrey, Nina Cano, Sydney Carr, Shaelyn Clark and Emiley Hillgartner.

The 2025 seniors with their families. Photo by Ava Neugebauer.

Both teams shot poorly from the field on the day, but the Pioneers (7-18, 6-10 AMCC) came out on top after holding Carlow to single digits in the first and third quarters and pouring on 21 points in the fourth to secure the victory.

Sydney Carr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) led the Celtics with 14 points, and Nina Cano (Greenville, Pa./Greenville HS/Grove City College) added a double-double 10 points and 15 rebounds in the effort. Emiley Hillgartner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) dished out five assists and picked up three steals.

Both teams shuffled through the first half, ending up tied at 19-all at the intermission.

A three-pointer from Emma Aubrey (Bristol, Tenn./Sullivan East HS) put the Celtics ahead in the third before Alfred State tied the game at 25-all midway through the quarter. A three gave the Pioneers a 28-25 advantage, and Alfred State would hold onto that lead until the very end.

A three from Carr saw the Celtics trailing by eight with under a minute to play, and Carlow was forced to foul to regain possession. Alfred State landed both free throws to go up 10.

The Celtics missed two three-pointers in the next possession, and a jump ball following the rebound turned the ball over to the Pioneers. Forced to foul again, the Celtics allowed too much time to dwindle off the clock, and Alfred State scored its final two points of the game at the foul line.

The Pioneers outrebounded the Celtics 49-47 and forced 19 Carlow turnovers on the day. Alfred State outscored Carlow 28-12 in the paint and 10-3 off the bench.

Josie Barton led the Pioneers with a game-high 15 points, five assists and two steals. Taylor Benjamin added a double-double 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Sarah Somers pulled down 10 rebounds.

The Celtics await to see their seeding for the 2025 USCAA National Championship, March 10-15 in Buffalo, N.Y. Bid day is set for March 3 at 11:40 a.m. Watch live here.