ONEONTA, N.Y. – Hartwick built a first-half cushion behind Emma Cohen's hot hand and solid ball movement, but a strong second-half surge from Alfred proved too much to overcome on Friday night at Lambros Arena.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Alfred 60 Hartwick 47
Location: Oneonta, NY | Lambros Arena
Records: Alfred (9-5, 3-2 Empire 8) • Hartwick (4-10, 1-4 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartwick continued its homestand with a tightly contested conference matchup against Alfred University on Friday night, but the Hawks were ultimately outlasted by the visiting Saxons.
The Hawks opened the scoring with a three-pointer from Emma Cohen (Utica, N.Y.) off an assist from Macy Durkin (Syracuse, N.Y.). Meghan Paul (Waterford, N.Y.) added Hartwick's next basket before Alfred responded with a 10-2 run to take the lead. Natalie Vredenburgh (Delhi, N.Y.) halted the momentum at the free-throw line, and Leah Schoonover (Fredericksburg, Va.) followed with a triple to stop the Saxon surge. Schoonover then found Olivia Farnham (Millerton, N.Y.) for the go-ahead bucket in the paint, while Jessica Bowens (Malta, N.Y.) went a perfect trip to the line to give Hartwick a three-point edge after one quarter.
Bowens opened the second quarter with a strong finish inside before Cohen took over offensively, knocking down back-to-back buckets and adding a free throw to extend the lead. Schoonover buried her second triple of the night, and Cohen followed with another trip to the charity stripe to push Hartwick's advantage to a game-high 12 points. A steal and score from Sophia DiCalogero (Melrose, Mass.) capped the Hawk run, and Cohen kept the lead in double figures with a free throw in the final seconds of the half.
Alfred opened the third quarter with a three-pointer, but Durkin quickly answered with one of her own. The Saxons heated up from beyond the arc, shooting 62 percent on five made threes in the period to fuel their comeback. Hartwick battled to contain the surge, but Alfred's strongest offensive quarter coincided with a cold spell from the Hawks.
Trailing by five entering the final frame, Durkin sparked the offense with a driving basket, but Alfred continued to find answers on the offensive end. Cohen kept Hartwick within striking distance, connecting on a running floater and a three-pointer to pull the Hawks within one. However, the Saxons closed on a late run as Hartwick struggled to generate consistent offense down the stretch.
Alfred maintained control in the closing minutes to secure the conference victory. Senior Emma Cohen led Hartwick with 16 points, reaching double figures for the fourth consecutive game. Durkin recorded a strong all-around performance with nine points and nine rebounds, while Schoonover was efficient from deep, knocking down three triples on 60 percent shooting.
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will host the Houghton Highlanders to continue their Empire 8 conference schedule on Saturday, January 17th at 2:00 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.
