Poughkeepsie, NY - The University of Hartford women's basketball team held the Marist Red Foxes to three points in the final eight and a half minutes to bring home a 49-32 road win on Wednesday night. The win snapped a 26 game home win streak and a 10 game win streak this season for Marist. Hartford improves to 9-2 overall and Marist falls to 10-2.
Hartford was led by Danielle Hood who finished with 10 points, the only player in double figures. Diana Delva finished one point shy of a double double while grabbing 16 rebounds, tying her career high. Hood was held scoreless for the first 21 minutes of the game before scoring six-straight. The Hawks post players were held to just four first half points.
MaryLynne Schaefer and Jamie McCabe were among the leading scorers for the Hawks. Schaefer added nine points, all on three pointers, and McCabe added eight points, including a pair of three's. Jonyce Hollins scored six points for Hartford. The Hawks finished the game shooting 32 percent from the game (18-of-56), led by Delva, who finished 3-of-6 from the floor.
The Hawks finished the game with an eight rebound advantage (41-33), led by Delva's 16. Erica Beverly and Lisa Etienne added six rebounds each. Delva and Etienne also added two blocks a piece. Hartford's defense was key, holding Marist to 27 percent from the field and just 14 first half points, the lowest by any opponent this season.
The Hawks took a 19-14 advantage into the break, after leading by as much as 10 (17-7) in the first half. That lead came on a jumper from McCabe, her fifth points over a four-minute span. The Red Foxes scored seven of the final nine points of the half, holding Hartford to one basket in the final four minutes of the first half.
The Hawks came out of the break and scored the first five points of the half on a jumper from Delva and a three pointer from McCabe. Marist then used a 10-0 run to tie the game for the first time at 24. All 10 points were scored by Rachele Fitz, who scored the first 12 points in the second half for Marist.
After a free throw, from Katie Kelley snapped the Marist run, Fitz hit a layup with 10:49 to play, giving Marist its first lead of the game. The teams traded baskets for the next two minutes before the Hawks defense held Marist scoreless over a three minute span, and to one basket in the final 8:30. The only basket in that stretch was a three pointer form Julianne Viani.
The Hawks final streak, 20-3, began with Hood scoring three-straight baskets, her first points of the game. The Hawks then scored the final 14 points of the game, including the final four from Hood for her to finish with 10 points.
The Hawks will next play on December 22 when they host nationally ranked Michigan State at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion. The game is part of a double header with the men's team (Brown 11:00 a.m.) and will tip-off at 2:00 p.m. and air of Comcast Sports Network.
