UTICA, NY – Utica College used a 9-0 run over a two-minute span deep in the second half to earn a 63-52 victory over Hartwick in Empire 8 women's basketball action on Tuesday night at the Clark Athletic Center in Utica. The Hawks are now 7-12 overall and 4-7 in conference play. The Pioneers improve to 11-9 and 7-4.
Freshman Lee Arduini (Albany, NY/Acad. Of Holy Names) led Hartwick in scoring with 13 points. Kate Purcell (Buffalo, NY/Mount Mercy Acad.) and Maria Foglia (Rensselaer, NY/Catholic Central) each had 10 points.
The Pioneers led by as many as seven in the second half, but the Hawks were able to close the gap. A Tracey Koch (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem) layup cut the deficit to two points, 46-44, with under five minutes to play. Utica hit a three-pointer on its next possession, but Fritzi Flores (Bergenfield, NJ/Paramus Catholic) answered right back with a trey for the Hawks with 3:38 to play.
Over the next 1:50, the Pioneers would score the next nine points, all from the free-throw line as the Hawks were whistled for six fouls, to open up a 58-47 advantage. Hartwick pulled to within eight points twice in the final 1:07 but got no closer.
Hartwick led for almost 12 minutes of the opening half. A 14-4 run for the Hawks gave them a 16-9 edge for their biggest margin of the game. Arduini (6), Foglia (4), and Koch (4) combined for all the points in the spurt.
A 14-5 run to close the half handed the hosts the lead at halftime, 23-21. A three-pointer 2:18 into the second half, gave the Hawks their final advantage of the game, 26-25, before UC took the lead for good with 16 minutes remaining in the second half.
Arduini shot 6-of-8 from the floor in the game for her team-high 13 points. Purcell added team-highs of seven rebounds and six assists and Foglia contributed five rebounds. Koch finished the night with eight points while Katrina Caulfield (Palmer, MA/Palmer) added six points and six rebounds.
The Pioneers were led by Jessica Berry and Meghan Fiore, who each recorded double-doubles. Berry registered 15 points, 11 rebounds, and added four steals and three assists. Fiore contributed 14 points and 10 boards. Stephanie Nara was also in double digits with 12 points.
Hartwick returns home and will host RIT and Nazareth this weekend at Lambros Arena. The Hawks play the Tigers on Friday night at 6 p.m. and the Golden Flyers on Saturday at 2 p.m.
