ONEONTA, NY - Four Hartwick teams will be in action this weekend with the Hawk basketball teams the lone programs playing at home. Both squads are in a position to capture conference regular season titles as they host Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. Water polo is on the road Saturday and Sunday for its first games on the east coast with a four-game set at the Bucknell University Bison Invite. Equestrian travels to Skidmore for its first competition since November.
Women's basketball (21-3), which is 12-1 in the Empire 8 Conference, can claim at least a share of the regular season championship with a win over the visiting Ducks. The Hawks, who are ranked 3rd in the East Region, earn the title all for themselves with a victory and a Utica win over Ithaca Saturday.
'Wick's men (22-2) are the region's top team for the second straight week and are now ranked 25th in the nation. The Hawks, with an 11-2 mark, hold a one-game lead in the Empire 8 standings over the visiting Ducks (10-3). Hartwick clinches its first outright conference regular season title with a victory and earns the right to host next weekend's conference tournament. A loss to the Ducks and the two programs share the crown. 'Wick would still host the E8 playoffs with either a Nazareth win over St. John Fisher or an Ithaca loss to Utica.
The day will also serve as Hartwick's men's and women's basketball's breast cancer awareness game. Pink Hartwick basketball T-shirts will be sold for $15 and donations will be accepted throughout the day. During halftime of the men's game with the Ducks, the Hartwick women's program will hold a half-court and three-point shot contest for prizes. All proceeds will benefit head coach Missy West's friend, Clare Droesch, was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer a week before Christmas.
Water polo, despite a strong 5-3 showing in its trip west last week, slipped a spot in the national polls to #16. On their trip, the Hawks posted wins over nationally-ranked Long Beach State and Cal Northridge.
Hartwick opens play at the Bison Invite against Wagner at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The Hawks play Marist later that day at 3:30 p.m. On day two of the event, the Hawks face Siena at 12:30 p.m. and wrap up play against the host Bison at 6:30 p.m. Hartwick is a combined 47-2 all-time against the Seahawks, Red Foxes, Saints, and Bison.
Equestrian is back in action following a three-month furlough. The Hawks finished each of their first five shows of last fall in the top-four. They closed the fall in fourth place in Zone II Region III with 157 points. 'Wick is just one point behind third-place Colgate.
