Box Score

ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick women's basketball outscored visiting Union College 9-1 over the final 2:56 of the game to secure a 58-55 victory in a game played at Lambros Arena on Tuesday night. Two free throws from junior guard Kate Purcell (Buffalo, NY/Mt. Mercy Academy) broke a 54-54 deadlock with 35 seconds to go to put the Hawks up to stay.
           
After Union made one of two free throws after a Hartwick foul with 26 ticks left to pull to within one, the Dutchwomen fouled to put 'Wick on the line once again. Freshman Brittney Dumas (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow HS) could not connect on either attempt but junior forward Tracey Koch (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem) ripped down the offensive rebound for the Hawks.
           
Koch was fouled with 14 seconds left and she made both attempts to put her team up three. Union's Shayla Madden's potential game-tying three-point attempt at the horn was off the mark enabling the Hawks to pick up the win.
           
Hartwick improves to 2-1 on the season. Union, playing in its season opener, falls to 0-1.
           
The Hawks were led by Purcell's game-highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds. She contributed two three-pointers and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the second half. Maria Foglia (Rensselaer, NY/Catholic Central) added 10 points for 'Wick and Dumas finished with eight points.
           
Union was paced by Amy Loya's 14 points. Madden and Kate Thompson each added 12 and Kelsey McDonald scored 10.
           
Neither team opened up a bigger margin than three points throughout the first 10 minutes of the first half. Two straight three-pointers from Madden would hand the Dutchwomen a 19-14 edge. Deep into the period, a Purcell trey and an Alicia Razanousky (Stuyvesant, NY/Ichabod Crane) free throw would tie it. Two Loya free throws with no time on the clock gave the visitors a 29-27 edge at halftime.
           
Union's lead grew to as many as eight points with 4:31 remaining in the contest following Kelsey McDonald's jumper, but the Hawks would hold the Dutchwomen to just two points the rest of the way, outscoring them by a 13-2 margin.
           
Two Purcell free throws cut the deficit to two with 2:04 left and a Dumas layup evened the score at 54-54 just 34 seconds later. Hartwick got a stop on the defensive end and cleaned up the offensive glass on a missed shot before a foul would put Purcell on the line with 35 seconds to go. She sank both to put 'Wick in front for good, 56-54.
           
Brittney Kenney cut the Hartwick lead to one with 1-of-2 from the line and Koch would close out the scoring from the line after her crucial offensive board with 14 ticks left.
           
The Hawks finished the night with a 38-34 edge on the boards, including 16 offensive rebounds. The Hawks also forced 24 Union turnovers.
           
Union shot 42% (20-of-48) from the floor in the contest. Hartwick shot 33% (20-of-61).
           
The victory for Hartwick is its 23^rd over the Dutchwomen in 32 meetings between the programs all-time.
           
The Hawks return to Lambros Arena on Sunday against Drew University at 5 p.m.