ELMIRA, N.Y. – Elmira used a strong first half to secure a 72-57 win over Penn College in a non-conference women's basketball game Wednesday. The Soaring Eagles improved to 1-0, while the Wildcats fell to 0-1.

How it happened: After Elmira jumped out to a 5-2 lead early in the first quarter, Penn College answered with a 4-0 spurt to take its only lead of the game, 6-5, on a pair of Rachel Teats free throws with 6:15 left in the quarter. The Eagles ended the quarter with a 15-9 run to lead 20-15 at the end of the first.

Penn College pulled with three on three different occasions early in the second, the final one occurring when Kayleigh Miller's jumper pulled the Wildcats within a shot, 24-21, with 7:05 the clock. Elmira closed on the half with a 20-8 spurt to take a 44-29 advantage into the locker room.

Elmira maintained a double-digit for the majority of the second half.

Inside the box: Ja'Quela Dyer scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed a team-best 12 rebounds for Penn College, while Teats added 12.

Alyssa Waters netted a game-high 31 points for Elmira.

Up next: Penn College returns to action Saturday, 5 p.m., at King's College.