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Hartwick College Athletics

Women's Basketball Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Pioneers Pull Away for 70-56 Win Over Hartwick Women’s Hoop Team

Women's Basketball Chris Gondek, Hartwick SID

Pioneers Pull Away for 70-56 Win Over Hartwick Women’s Hoop Team

          ONEONTA, NY – A 14-0 Utica run deep in the second half erased a four-point Hartwick lead and handed the visiting Pioneers a 70-56 win on Saturday at Lambros Arena. The victory moves UC to 11-3 on the year and 5-1 in the Empire 8 while the Hawks fall to 4-10 and 2-5 in the conference.
          The comeback spoiled a solid team effort for the Hawks on the day. 'Wick shot a season-best 41%, eight players made it into the scoring column, and all nine Hawks grabbed at least two boards. Freshman Jalicia Connell (Westbury, NY/Hicksville) led Hartwick with 13 points. Lauren Ploof (Hammond, NY/Hammond) added 12 points and Fritzi Flores (Bergenfield, NJ/Paramus) notched 11. Both Ploof and Flores picked up three steals on the day.
           Utica received 19 points from Katie McGee, who was the game's top scorer. Danielle Busansky scored 12 points on four three-pointers and Jessica Berry netted 11 second-half points for the Pioneers. Jessica Snyder added 10 points and Devon Croll scored eight and registered a game-high seven boards.
          The lead changed hands six times on the afternoon with a tie score occurring on eight separate occasions. The Hawks led for much of the first half with Flores leading the way with seven points. Utica still managed to grab a two point edge, 25-23, at the end of the first half despite not having the services of its top player Berry due to foul trouble.
          In the second half, Hartwick outscored the Pioneers 20-12 in the first six minutes to open up its biggest lead of the game, 43-37, with 14 minutes to play. Six different Hawks had baskets in the run. 'Wick would maintain its lead for the next seven minutes until a Snyder three-point basket with 7:44 remaining put the Pioneers up for good, 52-51, and ignited the big 14-0 run. The Hawks got as close as eight points twice in the final four minutes but could not get any closer.
          The Pioneers finished the game shooting 47% from the field (26-for-55), including hitting 17-of-30 (57%) in the second half alone. They also won the rebounding battle 39-34. Hartwick made 25 of its 61 shots from the floor as a team.
          The Hawks are back in action next weekend as they play a pair of road games within the Empire 8 Conference. The Blue and White plays at RIT on Jan. 22nd and at St. John Fisher on Jan. 23rd.
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