Women's Basketball | 2/21/2019 3:22:00 PM
ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick women's basketball team has returned to the Empire 8 Tournament after a one-year hiatus, this time earning the outright Regular Season Empire 8 Championship for the first time in program history. The #1 Hawks, who are 21-4 overall and 14-2 in the Empire 8, will take on #4 Stevens Institute of Technology (17-8, 12-4 E8) in the Semifinals on Friday, February 22 at Lambros Arena. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.
Hartwick had one of the best seasons in program history, at one point winning 12 games in a row during their conference schedule en route to a program-record 14 conference wins. They lost only four games, all of which were to teams (Smith, Mount Saint Mary, Nazareth, St. John Fisher) that were ranked in at least one of the NCAA's three regional rankings. The Hawks won five of their first six games before losing the seventh, and then went down to Florida to win their games against John Carroll and Olivet in the St. Pete Classic. They got off to an inauspicious start to their conference schedule, falling 83-70 to Nazareth on January 4, but won a dramatic contest on a last-second Molly Kirby (Selkirk, NY / Bethlehem) three the next day against St. John Fisher, beginning a twelve-game winning streak that spanned over a month and included wins over all three Empire 8 playoff teams. St. John Fisher snapped that streak in dramatic double-overtime fashion on February 10, shaking off a 10-point Hawk comeback in the final minutes of regulation, but 'Wick rebounded to win their last two games over Stevens and Sage, clinching the right to host the conference playoffs.
Hartwick has been far and away the best offense in the conference, leading all major categories. They averaged 74.2 points per game, over seven points better than the next best offense, and had a 15.3 scoring margin, eight points better than second-ranked St. John Fisher. 'Wick was also first in field goal percentage (43.5%), three-point field goal percentage (34.0%), and free throw percentage (74.2%). They are third in rebounding margin, at 4.2 (second among playoff teams). Nationally, the Hawks are 29th in field goal percentage, 39th in scoring offense, and 41st in three point field goal percentage.
'Wick has been led all season by their two standout seniors, Caitlin Corbett (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) and Carly Johnson (Greenville, NY/ Greenville Central), both of whom entered the 1000-point club during the year. Corbett is third in the Empire 8 in scoring, leading the Hawks with 15.1 points per game, and is eighth in the conference in rebounds per game at 6.8. Johnson, who broke the program record for most career three-pointers in the penultimate game of the regular season, is fourth in the conference with 14.7 points per game. Maggie Kirby (Selkirk, NY / Bethlehem) is also scoring in the double digits, potting 10.6 points per game while grabbing 5.7 boards per contest. Kelly Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY / Hoosick Falls) leads the Hawks on the glass at 7.4 rebounds per game (seventh in the Empire 8), and is up to 9.6 points per game thanks in part to a late-season run of five straight 15+-point games. Mary Schoenherr (Unionville, CT/ Farmington) is the main assist woman for Hartwick, averaging 5.0 per game. She is second in the conference in assists and first in assist/turnover ratio, at 1.8.
Stevens got off to a quick start to their 2018-19, winning their first three games before dropping an 84-56 decision to DeSales on November 18. That was the start of a mini-slide; from DeSales on, they lost four of six games, although the four losses were all to talented teams (DeSales, #24 Montclair State, Trinity (CT), Ithaca). Stevens picked back up once conference play began, starting out their title defense with two wins over Elmira and Utica. They lost the next two to Hartwick and Nazareth (in an overtime thriller), but won their next six games to get right back into the playoff race. After losing to St. John Fisher, they got revenge on Nazareth the next day and won their next three after that before losing the regular season finale to Hartwick on Senior Day.
The Ducks have been one of the conference's top defensive teams, leading the Empire 8 in turnover margin (3.12 per game), steals (11.08), and blocked shots (5.64, over 1.5 more than second-ranked Houghton). They have the second-best scoring defense, allowing only 57.2 points per game, as well as the #2 opponent field goal percentage at 34.4%, only three-tenths of a percentage point behind first-ranked St. John Fisher. Stevens is a little more pedestrian offensively, ranking fourth in scoring offense at 63.6 points per game, and registering the fourth-best field goal percentage with 38.3%. They are also fourth on the boards, with 40.1 rebounds per game.
Anna Toke and Jess Broad have been a dynamic duo for Stevens, leading the way in every major category. Toke is averaging a double-double, with 11.8 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game. She is 13th in the conference in scoring, third in rebounding, second in free throw percentage (82.8%), second in blocks per game (1.7), and third in steals per game (2.3). Broad leads Stevens in both points per game (14.2) and assists per game (3.0). She is seventh in the conference in scoring, 13th in rebounding (5.8), fourth in field goal percentage (47.5%), eighth in assists, seventh in blocked shots (0.8), and fourth in steals (2.1). Maddi Hahn has also contributed significantly, averaging 11.1 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Hartwick and Stevens met twice this regular season, with the Hawks leaving victorious each time. On January 8, Hartwick cruised to a 16-point victory at home, leading by as much as 23 before winning, 90-74. Six Hawks were in double figures, led by Johnson's 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Pine had a double-double putting up 10 points and 10 rebounds. The second contest was closer, with 'Wick winning, 71-64. Johnson again led Hartwick in scoring, with 24 points, including the program record-tying and record-breaking three-pointers in the first half. The Hawks led by 11 at the half, but saw their lead whittled down to just one with 2:11 to go. They were able to escape with a victory after Corbett hit a lay-up and Pine went 4-of-4 from the free throw line, holding on to first place in the conference.
Stevens and Hartwick have a closely contested history. Coming into the 2018-19 season, the Ducks had the upper-hand in the all-time series, with a 14-12 record against the Hawks. 'Wick has evened that record up, however, with their two wins this year. The two teams have a substantial postseason history included in that record, meeting three years in a row in the Empire 8 Semifinals from 2012 to 2014. Hartwick won the first two meetings easily, taking it 72-49 in 2012 and and 60-46 in 2013. Stevens turned the tables in 2014, as 'Wick missed multiple free throws down the stretch in a 53-52 loss.
The winner of Friday's game will move on to the Empire 8 Championship, taking on the winner of #2 Nazareth vs. #3 St. John Fisher, being played at Lambros Arena following the conclusion of Hartwick vs. Stevens. The Championship will take place on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., also at Lambros Arena. The winner of Saturday's game earns the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
General admission tickets cost $5, student/faculty/staff/senior/youth tickets cost $3, and admission is free for children under 12 as well as Hartwick students (with student ID). There will also be a video stream as well as live statistics. The championship website can be found here.
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