ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Hartwick Hawks Women's Basketball team went head to head with the Cardinals of St. John Fisher on Friday evening, falling in a conference matchup at Lambros Arena.
THE BASICS
Final Score: St. John Fisher 60 Hartwick 47
Location: Oneonta, NY | Lambros Arena
Records: St. John Fisher (8-8, 5-2 Empire 8) • Hartwick (4-12, 1-6 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks welcomed the Cardinals of St. John Fisher University on Friday night at Lambros Arena, opening the weekend and continuing their six-game homestand. Wick remained within striking distance throughout the contest, but the Cardinals were able to hold on for the conference victory.
Both offenses started slowly, with just one basket scored in the opening four minutes before Leah Schoonover (Fredericksburg, Va.) forced a turnover and Macy Durkin (Syracuse, N.Y.) converted on the other end to get the Hawks on the board. Senior Emma Cohen (Utica, N.Y.) knocked down back-to-back triples, assisted by Durkin and Yadi Smith (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), giving the Blue and White their first lead of the evening. The Cardinals answered with a six-point run of their own, carrying a two-point advantage into the second quarter.
St. John Fisher continued to build momentum, opening the second frame with a 14-point run to produce their strongest offensive stretch of the night. Natalie Vredenburgh (Delhi, N.Y.) buried a three-pointer to halt the surge before Smith sparked a shift in momentum with a steal and score. A suffocating Hawk press led to consecutive interior finishes from Durkin. Trinity Thornton (Sherburne, N.Y.) added a spark off the bench, knocking down an elbow jumper and converting a perfect trip to the free-throw line, trimming the deficit from 14 to six heading into halftime.
The two teams traded baskets through the opening five minutes of the third quarter as the Cardinals maintained their six-point cushion. A brief cold stretch from the Hawks allowed St. John Fisher to push the lead back to double digits before Cohen snapped the drought at the free-throw line, sinking both attempts. Cohen opened the fourth quarter with a bucket, followed by scores from Smith and Olivia Farnham (Millerton, N.Y.) on the interior. Despite a strong push from the Hawks, the Cardinals matched baskets down the stretch to preserve their lead and secure the win.
Cohen paced the offense with 12 points while adding a career-high three blocks on the defensive end. Thornton posted season bests with nine points and seven rebounds, while Smith made an immediate impact in her return, finishing with nine points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Durkin filled the stat sheet with eight points, nine rebounds, four assists, and tied her career high with seven steals, a mark she previously set just 13 days earlier at Keuka.
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will prepare for a quick turnaround, taking on the Nazareth Golden Flyers tomorrow, Saturday, January 24th at 2PM.
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.
