ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Hawks dropped their final non-conference contest at home against William Smith, as a decisive second-half push by the Herons proved to be the difference on Friday night at Lambros Arena.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Macy Durkin continued her strong stretch of play, recording her third double-double in the last four games with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

• Leah Schoonover (Fredericksburg, Va.) made an impact in her return to action, dishing out a season-high four assists.

• In their first meeting since 2007, the two teams were tied five times and exchanged the lead three times in a tightly contested non-conference matchup.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a long holiday break, the Hawks geared up to defend home court against the William Smith Herons and looked to get out in front from the opening whistle. Jess Bowens (Mechanicville, N.Y.) got the tone set early, grabbing the offensive board and connecting on the second effort for the opening bucket. The two teams traded interior buckets before Natalie Vredenburgh (Delhi, N.Y.) fired in the first long range jumper from beyond the arc but the seesaw affair continued as William Smith knocked down a three in response. Olivia Farnham (Millerton, N.Y.) closed out the first quarter with two strong buckets in the painted area, giving the Hawks a one possession advantage to head into the second quarter. 

The Blue and White gained firm control to open the second frame, stringing together a 9-2 run in the first five minutes, capped off by a Meghan Paul (Waterford, N.Y.) triple. Macy Durkin (Syracuse, N.Y.) kept the Hawks soaring with back to back driving scores, giving them their biggest lead yet, going up by nine points. Emma Cohen (Utica, N.Y.) and Farnham cashed in on their attempts at the charity stripe to push their cushion to seven points before the break.

Turnovers plagued the Hawks to open the second half, allowing the Herons to build a push and overwhelm the Blue and White, connecting for 12 straight before Trinity Thornton (Sherburne, N.Y.) got Hartwick on the board. Despite settling in, the Hawks struggled to slow down the red-hot Herons and looked for ways to halt their momentum. The Herons' attack would slow down after their quick start but still managed to outscore the Hawks 26-12 to flip the seven point lead in their favor. Another quick start from the Herons to open the fourth would make it virtually impossible for the Hawks to mount a comeback but they still fought hard. Durkin was a force to be reckoned with in the paint, leading the charge on the offense but the team would run out of time, falling to William Smith.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will hit the road to open their conference slate against SUNY Poly on Tuesday, January 6 at 5:30PM.

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.