DELHI, N.Y. - The Hartwick Women's Basketball team hit the road for their final non-conference test of the season, cruising past the Broncos in a decisive victory to close out 2024.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Hartwick 63 SUNY Delhi 30

• Location: Delhi, N.Y.

• Records: Hartwick (2-6, 0-0 Empire 8) SUNY Delhi (0-11, 0-2 North Atlantic Conference)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Hartwick prepared for their lone game of December, matching up with the Broncos after securing an overtime victory over SUNY Morrisville in their last outing on November 26th at Lambros Arena.

• The Hawks were aggressive from the starting whistle, swarming the Broncos offense in the backcourt, forcing an errant pass resulting in a turnover in the opening possession.

• Coach Lombard's squad displayed the same intensity on the other end of the court, earning multiple second chance opportunities. Seneca Williamson (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) jump started a nine point run for the Hawks, with a pull up jumper in the paint after the offensive board from Daniella DeBiase (Staten Island, N.Y.) to start the game.

• After holding the Broncos scoreless for over six and half minutes, the Hawks continued to execute the press with high success, forcing twelve turnovers in the first quarter.

• Natalie Vredenburgh (Delhi, N.Y.) was a force in the paint, corralling her first of five offensive rebounds and connecting on the second chance layup to put the Hawks up ten at the end of the first.

• The Royal Blue and White began to click on offense in the second quarter, extending their double digit lead while still maintaining their suffocating defense, holding the Broncos to five points in the second quarter. 

• The Hawks worked their way into the paint and made their presence felt,  earning trips to the charity stripe while scoring ten points in the paint and snagging four offensive boards in the quarter. 

• Six steals in the second translated to 15 points for Hartwick with timely threes coming from Emma Cohen (Utica, N.Y.), Bailey McCoy (Otego, N.Y.), and DeBiase.

• Hartwick performed well in the first half, holding a 27 point cushion entering the third quarter.

• Macy Durkin (Syracuse, N.Y.) was all over the court, disrupting passing lanes and pulling down rebounds all throughout the contest with high intensity. 

• Vredenburgh continued to control the paint, opening the quarter with two hard earned interior buckets. The Delhi native was stellar in her return to her hometown, posting new career highs of 12 points and nine rebounds.

• Willamson and Durkin also found buckets in the paint to keep the Hawks ahead in the third.

• Trinity Thornton (Sherburne, N.Y) was perfect from the free throw line, knocking down two free throws to extend the Hawk lead to 30 to close out the third.

• Niamh Kelly (Latham, N.Y.) opened up the fourth with a trip to the free throw line. The first year connected on one free throw and worked her way back into the paint on the following possession, driving for a layup and setting a new career high with nine points.

• Thornton had herself a big fourth quarter, putting up eight points for her best outing as a Hawk yet with ten points.

• Williamson set a career high as well, connecting for nine points in her early career.

• Durkin led the contest with a career high 15 rebounds, just one point shy of the double-double, finishing with nine points.

• "It was a great team win," remarked Head Coach Sarah Lombard. "It's huge for our younger kids to get more minutes and show that they score the ball inside and out, it is a great way to enter the break."

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will have a break in their schedule before beginning the new year on the road, opening Empire 8 conference play against Elmira on Tuesday, January 7th at 5:30 PM.

About Hartwick College:

Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.