ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Hartwick Hawks Women's Basketball team hosted the Golden Flyers in a conference matchup, falling to their Empire 8 foes on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Nazareth 76 Hartwick 56
Location: Oneonta, NY | Lambros Arena
Records: Nazareth (13-4, 7-1 Empire 8) • Hartwick (4-13, 1-7 Empire 8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartwick closed out its weekend homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Nazareth Golden Flyers, ultimately falling to the Empire 8 leaders, who entered the contest tied atop the conference standings at 6-1.
Nazareth opened the scoring on the game's first possession and looked to push the tempo early, but Emma Cohen (Utica, N.Y.) forced a turnover that led to a Jessica Bowens (Malta, N.Y.) basket on the other end. Bowens followed with another interior finish before the Golden Flyers fired off eight straight points. Meghan Paul (Waterford, N.Y.) stopped the run by drilling her first three-pointer of the afternoon off a feed from Macy Durkin (Syracuse, N.Y.).
Yadi Smith (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) got on the board with a perfect trip to the free-throw line before assisting Leah Schoonover (Fredericksburg, Va.) for her first basket as the Hawks worked to close the gap. Hartwick was able to slow the Nazareth attack as Durkin added her first points of the afternoon, but the Blue and White trailed by eight heading into the second quarter.
Durkin and Schoonover traded interior buckets with Nazareth early in the second frame before Niamh Kelly (Latham, N.Y.) knocked down her first triple of the afternoon with Smith picking up the assist. Smith later found Cohen on the perimeter for another three before Kelly drove inside for a running jumper, trimming the deficit to five. Paul connected from long range again to pull Hartwick within four, but Nazareth responded with a three-pointer and an interior finish to carry a nine-point lead into halftime.
Nazareth seized control in the third quarter, producing its strongest offensive stretch of the game with 23 points. The Hawks battled through turnovers and tough defensive pressure, with Smith knocking down a three-pointer to spark the offense. Cohen and Olivia Farnham (Millerton, N.Y.) added points in the paint, but the Golden Flyers maintained their cushion.
Durkin opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets, but Nazareth controlled the pace down the stretch to secure the victory. Alexa Voland (Voorheesville, N.Y.) was perfect at the free-throw line, converting all four attempts in the closing minutes.
Paul led the Blue and White with 10 points and two rebounds while shooting 66 percent from beyond the arc. Durkin followed with nine points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while making an impact defensively with three blocks and two steals.
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will round out their homestand with a home matchup against the Russell Sage Gators on Tuesday, January 27th 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.
