Women's Basketball | 2/23/2017 5:11:00 PM

ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick women's basketball makes a return trip to the Empire 8 Conference playoffs this weekend after a two-year hiatus. The Hawks last qualified in 2014 when seniors Emily Stone (Granby, CT/Granby), Jacqui Foreman (Tolland, CT/Tolland), Courtney Cirillo (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown), Anna Hickey (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth), and Sarah Shaw (Franklin, MA/Franklin) were freshmen.
           
Third-seeded 'Wick will battle #2 Ithaca in the conference semifinals Friday at Stevens Institute of Technology's Canavan Arena beginning at 8 p.m.
           
"I couldn't be more proud of what this group has accomplished," said second-year head coach Katie Marcella. "This senior class has worked so hard the last couple of years and come together as a whole to get themselves back to the playoffs. They are buying into the process and understand that we are a team that needs to work hard every game and every possession to be successful."
           
Both teams are ranked in the region with the Bombers sitting second and the Hawks in eighth. They split their season series with both teams winning on their home floor.        
           
On January 7, Carly Johnson (Greenville, NY/Greenville Central) led four Hawks in double figures as they downed the Bombers 75-64 at Lambros Arena. Hartwick would hold the Bombers to under 30% shooting for the game.
           
Foreman added a double-double of 18 points and 15 boards. Stone netted 17 points and Caitlin Corbett (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) chipped in with 12. Shaw had seven points, seven boards, and five steals.
           
In the rematch in Ithaca on February 11, Jordan Beers scored 14 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bombers pull away for a 60-49 victory. Foreman registered 13 points and 12 boards for the Hawks. Stone also had 13 points, and Johnson scored 11.
           
Marcella's Hawks are approaching the semifinal encounter with the Bombers with the same mentality as every game. "We are working hard and focusing on us. Taking care of the ball is key against their defense. They work hard every possession and we need to execute our game plan and not play at their speed especially on the offensive end."
           
The Hawks are 2-5 in their previous trips to the E8 playoffs and 2-3 in the semifinal round. They fell in the semis in both 2004 and 2005 before appearing in three straight postseasons from 2012-14.
             
In both 2012 and 2013, The Hawks and Bombers met in the Empire 8 Championship with Ithaca coming out on top. Hartwick is 0-3 in three playoff appearances against the Bombers.
           
A victory Friday would send the Hawks into the E8 title game against the winner of the Stevens and St. John Fisher matchup. The championship is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks will be in search of their 10^th NCAA appearance in program history.